High cost of living worries ZCTU

Chishimba Nkole

The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has bemoaned the high cost of living in the country.

Speaking when he opened a pre-budget consultative workshop organised by ZCTU in conjunction with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Lusaka today, ZCTU President Chishimba Nkole noted that while the cost of living in the country has continued rise, workers incomes have remained static.

Mr. Nkole adds that workers are already feeling the impact of the recent increase in electricity tariffs.

He says there is therefore need for the labour movement to identify alternatives on how to cushion the high and increasing cost of living.

Mr Nkole points out that some of the options to consider include raising minimum wages or expanding social protection programmes so as to capture the most vulnerable in society.

The ZCTU president has also urged government to expedite the labour law reform process in order to strengthen national dialogue structures to effectively protect the plight of workers in Zambia.

And Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Resident Director Helmut Elischer urged ZCTU to propose measures in the 2018 budget that will help address the current challenges of the labour market in line with the decent work country programme.

Mr Elischer says the many challenges that confront Zambia in its quest to achieve economic and social development call for the labour movement to reposition itself and work with government in finding solutions to accelerate economic growth which entails wealth and job creation.