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Poor working conditions exposed in Zambia's colonial-era capital |
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16:52, July 05, 2007 |
A Zambian parliamentary watchdog committee has expressed disappointment at the poor working conditions for workers in Livingstone, Zambia's colonial-era capital, Zambia Times reported on Thursday.
During an on-the-spot check in Livingstone on Wednesday, the committee found that workers at Chrismar Hotel were employed through a labor broker and did not get service charges. At Livingstone Shoprite, Zambia's largest supermarket chain, some of the workers were still casuals despite having worked for the company for over one year, according to Zambia Times.
The workers told members of the parliamentary committee that they were normally harassed and harshly treated by their employers.
"We are instantly dismissed for any slightest mistakes and we are always reminded that there are over 500 application letters for job seekers," a worker at Spar Supermarket was quoted as saying.
Committee chief Barnabas Chella warned investors against ill- treating employees.
"In as much as we need investors to develop our land, we will not allow a situation where investors turn Zambians into slaves," Chella said.
Southern Province Governor Joseph Mulyata assured the committee that he would work with labor officers to ensure harmony between workers and investors.
The labor officers, however, called for more concrete legislation against labor abuse, complaining that they had no legal backing to instruct investors to give workers equal pay for equal work.
Source: Xinhua
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