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Zambia: Workmen’s Compensation workers protest

Published: 5 April 2007
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Commissioner Mpundu, 2nd from right, and management staff listening to the workers' demands



Workers chanting anti-management slogans










 UNIONISED workers at Workmen's Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB) head office in Ndola, Zambia yesterday protested against the pending restructuring demanding for clear information on how the exercise will be implemented.

The workers were also angered by recent media reports attributed to the company's chief executive officer which indicated that most workers would be laid off as they possessed little qualifications to merit the positions they are holding.

The protesting workers carried placards denouncing the Commissioner Charles Mpundu. One of the placards read: "With our humble education we have made WCFCB what it is today. You with degrees want to reap where you did not sow."

The workers demanded to know the new organisational structure and information on those likely to be retired to dispel anxiety.

They also demanded for resumption of negotiations and that staff loans be written off so that retrenched workers do not end up with negative benefits.

And acting Commissioner Charles Mpundu, who was flanked by his management team, apologised to the workers for the media reports which he said had quoted him out of context.

He reassured the workers that not all workers would be retired. He said those workers who could be trained further would be sent for training while others would be put on early retirement so that qualified personnel can be engaged. He also said negotiations would resume soon.

The workers later resumed work around 11.00 hours.

Workmen's Compensation, which has 255 full time workers and 47 casuals, has announced that it would retire unqualified workers and employ people with professional qualifications. The organisation has since requested all employees to re-apply for their jobs, a move that has caused anxiety among workers.

And the Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers (ZUFIAW) has condemned the restructuring exercise at WCFCB.

ZUFIAW General Secretary Joyce Nonde said the way the exercise was being done showed a lot of ignorance about labour laws and the recognition agreement which the union has with the organisation.

"What is happening at Workers' compensation shows high levels of ignorance on the part of management. I have never known a country where only degree holders can work. Why do they want to retire those workers with the relevant experience?"

"Institutional policies should be discussed. We have written to them demanding details such as the objectives of the restructuring, the goals and the criteria so that we move together and inform union members countrywide. But they have not responded. We will not allow retrenchments without informing us," she said.

UNI-Africa News, 5 April 2007