Public Service wage bill increased to K1b in October

Fredson Yamba

The Public Service wage bill increased to K1 billion in October, 2014 from K824.3 million in September, 2014.

This follows the introduction on the payroll finally of over three thousand public service workers, who endured payless moments.

Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba in a statement obtained by QFM News says the 3, 100 employees were introduced on the payroll during the month ending 31st October, 2014 and they have since started receiving their salaries.
Mr Yamba says the employees were recruited on the basis of the treasury and recruitment authority obtained in 2013.

He adds that a further 2, 980 newly promoted employees have also had their salaries adjusted upwards.

Mr Yamba says to the best of its ability, the Treasury will continue to ensure that all duly employed and promoted public service workers are installed on the payroll and their salaries adjusted as promptly as possible.

Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Treasury assured delegates who were attending the just ended Conference on High-Level-Dialogue on Job-Creation that in its quest to better the living conditions of the citizenry, the Government has taken various steps to address the challenges of high unemployment and poverty, particularly among the rural populace of the country.

Mr Yamba notes that in the revised sixth national development plan, the Government had prioritised employment creation as a key to poverty reduction.

He says the Government has put in place a number of policies and strategies aimed at addressing the challenges of high unemployment across the various sectors.

Mr. Yamba called for measures and delivery vehicles that will transform public policy aspirations into tangible actions so that the livelihoods of the people of Zambia are transformed from contentment with bare means of survival to statuses that are consistent with Zambia’s middle-income classification.

The Secretary to the Treasury was speaking during the closing session of the High-Level-Dialogue on Job-Creation & Inclusive Growth.

Among several Government strategies and policies that address unemployment and facilitate job creation, the Secretary to the Treasury cited the Employment & Labour Market, the Micro Small Medium Enterprise Development, National Youth, TEVET, and Gender Policy. Others are Agricultural, Job Creation and Industrialisation Strategy, and the Decentralization Policy.