LABOUR DAY SPEECH BY THE ZAMBIA FEDERATION OF EMPLOYERS ACTING PRESIDENT MRS MYRA MARA SAKALA NGOMA ON THE MAY RALLY HELD AT FREEDOM STATUE, LUSAKA ON SUNDAY 1ST MAY 2022
- THE GUEST OF HONOUR, YOUR EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, MR. HAKAINDE HICHILEMA
- YOUR EXCELLENCY SIXTH PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA MR. EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU;
- THE CHIEF JUSTICE, DR. MUMBA MALILA, STATE COUNSEL
- YOUR HONOUR SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, MRS NELLY B. K MUTTI;
- MEMBERS OF THE UPND ALLIANCE PARTNERS;
- HER WORSHIP THE MAYOR OF LUSAKA, MS CHILANDO CHITANGALA
- THE ACTING SECRETARY TO THE CABINET, PATRICK K. KANGWA;
- THE PROVINCIAL MINISTER OF LUSAKA, SHEAL MULYATA
- HONOURABLE MINISTER OF LABOUR & SOCIAL SECURITY, MRS. BRENDA M. TAMBATAMBA MP AND OTHER CABINET MINISTERS PRESENT;
- THE PRESIDENT OF THE ZAMBIA CONGRESS OF TRADE UNIONS, MR. NKOLE CHISHIMBA;
- THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION DIRECTOR FOR ZAMBIA, MALAWI AND MOZAMBIQUE. MR. GEORGE OKUTHO;
- MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS;
- FORMER SECRETARIES TO THE CABINET AND FORMER CABINET MINISTERS;
- ALL SERVICE CHIEFS;
- LEADERS OF POLITICAL PARTIES PRESENT;
- SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS PRESENT;
- MEMBERS OF THE PRESS;
- DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
I AM GLAD TO HAVE BEEN ACCORDED THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SOME REMARKS ON BEHALF OF MY ORGANIZATION THE ZAMBIA FEDERATION OF EMPLOYERS ON THIS LABOUR DAY CELEBRATION UNDER THE THEME “ACCELERATING SOCIAL-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION THROUGH SUSTAINABLE AND DECENT JOB CREATION AMIDST COVID-19”
GUEST OF HONOUR, IT IS PLEASING THAT AFTER A COMPLETE TWO YEARS OF NO RALLIES OR GATHERINGS TO COMMEMORATE THIS VERY IMPORTANT LABOUR DAY FOR OUR WORKERS DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, TODAY WE ARE GATHERED HERE AND OTHERS ELSEWHERE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY CELEBRATING WITH OUR WORKERS. WE WISH TO COMMEND THE GOVERNMENT AND OUR ORGANIZED LABOUR MOVEMENT IN THE COUNTRY FOR THEIR HARD WORK IN MAKING IT HAPPEN.
GUEST OF HONOUR, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS A WELL-KNOWN FACT THAT THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC HAS HAD DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON NATIONAL ECONOMIES INCLUDING THE ZAMBIAN ECONOMY TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR EMPLOYMENT CREATION AND ALSO THAT A NUMBER OF JOBS THAT EXISTED WERE LOST AS COMPANIES COULD NOT SUSTAIN THEM AS THEIR REVENUE STREAMS DECLINED. EVEN SELF- EMPLOYED BUSINESS OWNERS WERE FORCED TO CLOSE DOWN. NOW WITH A DECLINE IN THE COVID -19 CASES GLOBALLY, ECONOMIES ARE SLOWLY RECOVERING AND HOPEFULLY OVER A PERIOD OF TIME THERE WILL BE A RECOVERY IN TERMS OF THE LOST JOBS AND A RESTORATION OF INCOME TO THE FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO LOST THEIR JOBS. THE THEME OF THIS YEAR’S LABOUR DAY GUEST OF HONOUR IN SIMPLE TERMS IS SIMPLY SUGGESTING THAT EVEN IF THERE HAVE BEEN OR THERE IS STILL THE COVID -19 PANDEMIC AND ITS NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON THE ZAMBIAN ECONOMY, THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR MUST COLLABORATE AND WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE DECENT AND LASTING JOBS FOR THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE.
WHILE WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT IT IS PRIMARILY A RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE DECENT JOBS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS A CRITICAL ROLE IN CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT MUST SUPPORT SUSTAINABILITY OF ENTERPRISES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL FOR CREATION OF SUSTAINABLE AND DECENT JOBS IN THE COUNTRY. AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISE IN THE COUNTRY GUEST OF HONOUR WILL AMONG OTHER REQUIREMENTS NEED A REDUCTION IN THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS WHICH EVENTUALLY SHOULD ALSO REFLECT IN THE COST OF LIVING. THE FACT IS THAT WHEN THE COST OF PRODUCTION IS HIGH IN THE COUNTRY, COMPANIES PASS OVER THAT COST TO THE CONSUMERS OF THEIR PRODUCTS HENCEFORTH. MR. PRESIDENT WE IN THE ZAMBIA FEDERATION OF EMPLOYERS ARE GRATEFUL THAT DURING YOUR PRESS BRIEFING ON MONDAY 25TH APRIL YOU INDICATED TO THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE WITH THEM IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF LIVING AND ASSURED THE ZAMBIANS THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS ADDRESSING THE MATTER.
IN YOUR ADDRESS MR. PRESIDENT, YOU TOUCHED ON THE HIGH COST OF FUEL AND FERTILIZER. WHILE WE COMMEND YOU AND YOUR TEAM IN GOVERNMENT IN MAKING EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE COST OF LIVING IN THE COUNTRY, WHICH YOU SAID YOU ARE WORKING ON, WE WISH TO EXPAND THE LIST ABIT BY ADDING THE FACT THAT THE COST OF ANIMAL AND CHICKEN FEED HAS EQUALLY ESCALATED LEADING TO HIGH PRICES OF BEEF, KAPENTA, FISH AND CHICKEN. WE WISH TO PROPOSE THAT IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD COMPILE A LIST OF PRICES OF A NUMBER OF PRODUCTS (PRICE AUDIT) AND CONDUCT AN ANALYSIS TO GET TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE MAJOR FACTORS OR COMPONENTS THAT ARE BUILDING UP TO THE HIGH PRICES OF GOODS AND SERVICES IN THE COUNTRY ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO FOOD. WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THAT FOR IMPORTED PRODUCTS, THE HIGH PRICES ARE PARTIALLY CAUSED BY A DEPRECIATED ZAMBIAN CURRENCY THERE COULD ALSO BE OTHER LOCAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE IMPORTS THAT MUST BE ANALYSED AND ADDRESSED. THIS IS A CRITICAL ISSUE TO ADDRESS GUEST OF HONOUR AS THE CURRENT HIGH COST OF LIVING ERODES THE VALUE OF SALARIES THAT ARE PAID TO OUR ESTEEMED EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE HEARD SOME PEOPLE MAKING COMMENTS THAT THE COST OF LIVING IS GOING UP ALMOST EVERY DAY WHILE EMPLOYERS ARE NOT INCREASING THE SALARIES FOR WORKERS IN ORDER TO CUSHION THE IMPACT OF THE RISING COST OF LIVING. GUEST OF HONOUR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, EMPLOYERS CARE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES AND AS SUCH EFFORTS ARE ALWAYS MADE TO INCREASE WAGES AND SALARIES ON AN ANNUAL BASIS WHERE POSSIBLE BUT COMPANIES TOO ARE CONSTRAINED WITH THE RISE IN THE TOTAL COST OF DOING BUSINESS AND AS SUCH THE AMOUNT OFFERED FOR SALARY INCREMENT DO NOT MATCH THE RATE AT WHICH THE COST OF LIVING IS MOVING. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO FIXING MINIMUM WAGES, IT IS UNAFFORDABLE FOR COMPANIES TO PAY UP TO THE REAL COST OF THE FOOD BASKET. THEREFORE, THE SOLUTION DOES NOT LIE IN EMPLOYERS INCREASING SALARIES BUT IN THE GOVERNMENT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE. IT SHOULD ALSO BE REALIZED THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE IS NOT IN FORMAL EMPLOYMENT AND THEREFORE, NOT ON SALARIES AND AS SUCH THERE WOULD BE NO CUSHION ON THEM EVEN IF THOSE IN FORMAL EMPLOYMENT RECEIVED SALARY INCREMENTS TO A LEVEL THAT COULD BRING THEM TO MANAGE THE CURRENT HIGH COST OF LIVING.
WHILE STILL ON THE SUBJECT OF CREATING DECENT AND SUSTAINABLE JOBS, GUEST OF HONOUR, THE ZAMBIA FEDERATION OF EMPLOYERS WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND YOU AND YOUR GOVERNMENT FOR LAUNCHING THE PUBLIC PRIVATE DIALOGUE FORUM (PPDF) WITH THE AIM OF ACCELERATING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND JOB CREATION. WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THROUGH THIS FORUM AND WITH ENHANCED DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE GOVERNMENT A NUMBER OF ISSUES WILL COME TO THE FORE ESPECIALLY CONCERNING THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO UNLOCK THE POTENTIAL THAT THE COUNTRY HAS IN ITS NATURAL RESOURCE ENDOWMENT. MR. PRESIDENT WHAT COMES TO OUR MIND ON THIS ISSUE OF PPPS AS ZFE IS THAT MUCH AS THE STATE MUST WORK ON CREATING AN ENABLING BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT, NOTHING SHOULD STOP THE STATE IN PARTNERING WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN TAKING UP BUSINESS INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES. GUEST OF HONOUR, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS WHILE OUR GOVERNMENT CURRENTLY ONLY OWNS 10% EQUITY IN OUR CURRENT MINING COMPANIES THROUGH THE ZAMBIA CONSOLIDATED COPPER MINES INVESTMENT HOLDING (ZCCM-IH), YOU MAY BE AWARE THAT THE PEOPLE OF BOTSWANA THROUGH THEIR GOVERNMENT OWN 50% SHARES IN THEIR DIAMOND MINES AS BOTSWANA TURNED ITS DIAMOND ENDOWMENTS INTO AN ASSET TO BENEFIT THE COUNTRY INSTEAD OF A RESOURCE CURSE THAT WORKS TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF BOTSWANA. YOU MAY BE AWARE THAT BOTSWANA HAS SINCE 1967 TRANSFORMED FROM ONE OF THE POOREST NATIONS IN THE WORLD INTO A MODERN UP-MIDDLE – INCOME STATE. ZAMBIA CURRENTLY HAS SEVERAL MINERAL DEPOSITS INCLUDING GOLD WHICH IS A MINERAL RESOURCE THAT HAS GREAT POTENTIAL TO TURN AROUND THE ZAMBIAN ECONOMY AND GOING THE BOTSWANA WAY IN MINING THE GOLD ENDOWMENT WILL NO DOUBT ENABLE THIS COUNTRY NOT ONLY CREATE DECENT AND SUSTAINABLE JOBS FOR THE MANY UNEMPLOYED YOUTH AND THE WOMEN OF THIS COUNTRY. MR. PRESIDENT AS ZFE WE WILL NOT SHY TO CALL ON YOUR GOVERNMENT CONSIDER GOING THE BOTSWANA WAY NOT IN EXISTING MINING COMPANIES BUT IN OPENING UP NEW MINING COMPANIES ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO GOLD.
GUEST OF HONOUR, IN THE PAST 3 TO 4 YEARS THE ZAMBIA FEDERATION OF EMPLOYERS’ WORKING TOGETHER WITH ORGANIZED LABOUR MOVEMENT IN THE COUNTRY AND WITH THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE EMPLOYMENT CREATION DISCUSSION IN THE SADC REGION THROUGH THE SADC EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR SECTOR ( SADC ELS) SUCH AS IN THE FORMULATION OF THE SADC EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR POLICY FRAMEWORK WHICH GUIDES SADC MEMBER STATES LIKE ZAMBIA ON PRIORITIES FOR ADDRESSING DECENT WORK DEFICITS INCLUDING UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT WHICH HINDERS PRODUCTIVE STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION AND POVERTY ERADICATION, THE SADC’S INDUSTRIALISATION STRATEGY AND ROAD MAP FROM 2015 TO 2063 WHICH IS A PLAN FOR MODERNIZATION, SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, AND FINANCING MECHANISMS WHICH AIMS AT MOVING THE REGION FROM A FACTOR DRIVEN TO INVESTMENT DRIVEN AND TO EFFICIENCY DRIVEN AND ULTIMATELY TO A KNOWLEDGE DRIVEN ECONOMY AND AS A MEMBER STATE WE HAVE THE POLICY FRAMEWORKS TO GUIDE US.
GUEST OF HONOUR, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TO LISTEN TO OUR SPEECH AS ZFE AND I WISH TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE WORKERS THAT WILL BE RECEIVING LABOUR DAY AWARDS TODAY AT THIS GATHERING, ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY AND THOSE THAT WILL BE AWARDED DURING IN-HOUSE EVENTS. MAY I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO THANK OUR EMPLOYERS OUT THERE WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FACILITATE LOGISTICS FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES TO ATTEND THE COMMEMORATIONS OF THIS YEAR’S LABOUR DAY.
THANK YOU AND MAY OUR GOOD LORD BLESS US ALL.