Unionist calls for formation of Police and Prisons union

Unionist calls for formation of Police and Prisons union

Chongwe, May 2, ZANIS —–The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Union President Kalenga Musonda has called on the government to allow the Police and Prison officers form trade unions to start representing them.

The ZRA Union President made the call in Chongwe yesterday during the 2013 Labour Day Celebrations held at Chongwe Basic School grounds.

Mr Musonda said police officers and prison warders have continued to work under poor conditions of service because they do not have unions to table their grievances before government.

He said the government should emulate some African countries such as Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa where essential workers such as police officers have formed trade unions.

The ZRA Union President has also called on the Zambia Federation of Employers to ensure that all employers in the country are paying their worker above the statutory minimum wage of K700.

Mr Kalenga said he was saddened that most employers in the country are ignoring the Statutory Law on the minimum wage and paying their workers below K700.00.

Meanwhile, Lusaka Province Minister Freedom Sikazwe has called on workers in the country to develop a positive work culture for them to contribute meaningfully to national development.

Mr Sikazwe has also called on trade unions to stop supporting their members who get dismissed or punished by employers for wrong doings emerging from poor work culture.

The minister said this in Chongwe when he officiated at the 2013 Labour Day Celebrations yesterday.

Mr Sikazwe noted that most workers have continued to exhibit a poor work culture because of the support they get from their unions whenever they are punished by their employers.