Govt may revoke work permits of Chinese supervisors accused of assaulting female Zamfresh Worker (video)

The government has announced that it will recommend the revocation of work permits for Chinese supervisors accused of manhandling a female employee at Zamfresh.

Labour Commissioner, Givens Muntengwa, said the Ministry of Labour and Social Security had reviewed CCTV footage showing the incident in which the worker was physically handled by her employer.

Speaking during a tour of Zamfresh in Lusaka on Monday, Muntengwa said the conduct exhibited by the supervisors was unacceptable and contravened Zambia’s labour laws.

He said the government would not tolerate the mistreatment of Zambian workers by foreign nationals.

Muntengwa further cautioned Zamfresh to adhere to proper labour practices and avoid creating a negative narrative that undermined employee rights.

“We don’t want you to create a narrative in the labour sector that what happens can happen and can be done to any employee. Labour sector is not for fights, it’s for serious business,” he said.

He stressed that the labour sector was built on social dialogue, not conflict, and emphasized the importance of resolving disputes amicably rather than through acts such as stone throwing.

Muntengwa urged the company to address issues through proper channels.

“If someone has stolen, you bring evidence. That’s the process. Bad elements must be removed from the labour sector,” he said.

Meanwhile, Police Deputy Public Relations Officer Chipo Kaitisha clarified that the cashier was restrained after allegedly attempting to flee with company funds.

Kaitisha said investigators recovered K7,500 suspected to have been stolen in the commotion.

“Another suspect, believed to have acted with the cashier, escaped and remains on the run as police continue their investigations,” she added.

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