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The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has called for broader consultations on the review of several key pieces of labour legislation, including the Industrial and Labour Relations Act, the Factories Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Employment Code Act.
The call comes as the government moves forward with plans to revise these laws, with particular attention to the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) Act.
ZCTU president, Blake Mulala, welcomed government’s approval to review the Industrial and Labour Relations Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act, describing the move as a significant step in improving labour laws in Zambia.
“Cabinet’s approval of these reviews is a critical development, and we commend the government for its commitment to reforming the Industrial and Labour Relations Act, which focuses on the registration and management of trade unions, employers’ associations, collective agreements, and dispute settlements,” Mulala said in a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday.
However, Mulala emphasized the need for more inclusive consultations, particularly with the labour movement and employer organizations, to ensure the proposed changes reflect the views of all stakeholders.
He stressed that consensus building was essential for the successful implementation of these reforms and for ensuring that the changes promote inclusive national development.
Additionally, Mulala raised concerns about the current state of the NAPSA social security system, noting that many workers had expressed dissatisfaction with the way income replacement was structured.
“The NAPSA system has caused challenges for workers across Zambia. Many are calling for a review of the NAPSA Act,” he said.
He pointed out that pension reform efforts, which began in 2012, had yet to produce a harmonized pension scheme, leaving individual pension schemes to initiate reforms.
“Since 2012, NAPSA has made several amendments to its Act, including raising the mandatory retirement age from 55 to 60 years and allowing employers to waive penalties under certain conditions.
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“Most recently, the Act was amended to allow access to pre-retirement benefits at 20 percent of a member’s contributions. Despite these changes, ZCTU has consistently called for the NAPSA Scheme to allow for lump-sum payments to members upon retirement,” Mulala explained.
He called on various stakeholders, including employers, non-governmental organizations, churches, and parliamentarians, to support the call for pension reform, which he described as crucial for the wellbeing of workers and the country.
“We urge all well-meaning members of the public to join us in this important call for the benefit of workers and Zambia as a whole,” Mulala stated.
He stated that ZCTU planned to bring this issue to the Tripartite Consultative Labour Council (TCLC) in 2025 as a top priority for further consideration.
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