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The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has raised the alarm over continued resistance to unionization and harsh working conditions in retail and hospitality, saying some employers still bar workers from joining unions and force them to stand for entire shifts.
ZCTU President Blake Mulala said social dialogue had yielded some progress, prompting the union to tone down public statements, but that challenges persisted across malls and chain stores.
Mulala told Zambia Monitor that the Congress had held private engagement meetings with employers following earlier press briefings that exposed non-compliant firms.
He noted improvements in parts of the hospitality industry, though union access was still not universal.
The union leader flagged a pattern of fear among employees who avoided speaking out on workplace violations due to threats of victimization.
“I think again the other challenge we have had is when workers themselves are scared to speak out for fear of being victimised,” he said.
Mulala singled out retail chains and restaurants in shopping malls where staff were made to work full shifts on their feet without sitting facilities.
“We still have some chain stores. Ah restaurants where workers they are not allowed to sit down. They report to work around 7 hours. And then they expect them to stand the whole day when they knock off,” he said.
Mulala condemned the practice as inhumane and unlawful, urging employers to comply with labor standards on workplace amenities.
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Mulala argued that treating workers like “robots” in the era of artificial intelligence ignored their basic physical welfare.
The ZCTU president also revealed cases of employers who refused to recognize unions and those hiring without contracts or with exploitative terms.
He cited a specific case involving a 60-year contract in a retail shop, where dismissal before the term ends results in total loss of benefits.
Mulala called on affected workers to report abuses, saying the Congress was accessible on social media and through its Lusaka offices for those with information.
He emphasized the role of the media in exposing workplace injustices, urging journalists to help amplify workers’ voices so that violations could be addressed.
“I think we have more work to do working together with you the media because you are the light of society, you pick the issues you enlighten them and once they are picked with what are so affected, speaking out on issues we can make a society and make our workplaces,” Mulala said.
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