Shamenda right on work culture-ZCTU

-The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says government’s call on workers to change their work culture is genuine and should be taken seriously if the country is to develop.

ZCTU Secretary General Roy Mwaba says poor work culture among some employees is real and has contributed to low productivity in both private and public sectors of the economy.

Mr. Mwaba said much as the workers are demanding for improved conditions of service, they must improve their productivity through reporting for work early and knock off at the stipulated time so that employers do not blame them for their failures.

And Mr. Mwaba has observed that the labour movement in Zambia has failed to inspire confidence in their members saying the churches and non-governmental organisations are doing better than trade unions.

He said the Minister of Labor Fackson Shamenda’s comments in the media on the poor work culture of employees in Zambia is clear demonstration that even labour movements are not doing enough to ensure productivity from their members.

Mr. Mwaba was speaking when he officiated at the two-day International Labour Organisations (ILO) decent work agenda workshop in Lusaka today.

And Ministry of Labour Permanent Secretary Trevor Kaunda said government, through the industrialization strategy, was creating employment in the areas of agriculture, manufacturing, construction and mining among others.

In a speech read for him by Acting Director of Finance Bernard Mumba, Mr. Kaunda said government was not just looking at creating jobs but ensuring that job opportunities that are created are decent.

Meanwhile, International Labour Organisation Chief Technical Advisor Tapera Muzira said employment for men and women should be at the Centre of the country’s economic and social policies.

Mr. Muzira said decent work agenda entails that men and women should have equal opportunities on the job market.