Poverty is major contributor to forced labour – President Lungu

President Edgar Lungu

Republican President Edgar Lungu has observed that poverty is a major contributor to the continued existence of forced labour.

Speaking in Lusaka this afternoon when he officially opened a Sub-Regional Conference on the Ratification and Implementation of the new International Labour Organization (ILO) Protocol on Forced Labour, Mr. Lungu says child labour also perpetuates the already high levels of poverty amid the global economic crisis affecting the region.

He says it is important for SADC countries to adopt instruments that alleviate the suffering of the people in the region.

President Lungu notes that policies centered on the creation of jobs,income,and the establishment of nationally defined social protection floors,are vital to end modern day slavery.

He has since challenged all countries in the region to prioritize addressing major implementation gaps with regards to laws and policies against forced labour in order to strengthen prevention, protection and compensation measures.

President Lungu states that Zambia will lead by example in taking the necessary steps required towards the ratification of the protocol.

The Head of State adds that he has gladly accepted the offer by ILO to be a champion of the “50 for Freedom” campaign aimed at encouraging countries to ratify the protocol on ending forced labour.

And Labour and Social Security Minister Fackson Shamenda has assured Zambians that the tendency of hiring and firing at will, will be a thing of the past once the Bill he has presented to parliament to abolish casualization is enacted into law.

Speaking earlier, ILO Country Director Alexio Musindo says his organization will endeavor to see to it that the protocol on forced labour is ratified by all countries as a way of improving conditions of employment for workers.

Mr. Musindo says the meeting will look at renewing the knowledge and data on forced labour and see how people in such situations can be protected from abuse.

And Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Secretary General Cosmas Mukuka says there is need to root out any form of injustices at places of work more especially in the private sector.

Mr. Mukuka says it is disturbing that cases of forced labour have continued to be on the increase.

He says there is need to come up with a legislation framework that will help to combat forced labour more especially in the private sector.

Speaking at the same event, Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE) Executive Director Harrington Chibanda said research has shown that lack of education and awareness, high poverty levels, and poor implementation of laws are some of the major causes of forced labour in Africa.