Zambia joined the global community in commemorating International Workers’ Day, also known as Labor Day, with a call for economic growth and job creation. President Hakainde Hichilema emphasized the need for harmony in the labor sector, noting that it is difficult to create jobs without economic growth, which can be disrupted by industrial disharmony between employers and employees.
The event in the capital Lusaka featured a march by workers and an exhibition showcasing various products and services offered by both the public and private sectors. The theme for this year’s Labor Day event was “Accelerating economic growth for job creation.”
While the president praised the country’s workers for their hard work and the industrial harmony that has existed in the country over the past year, Blake Mulala, president of the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions, expressed concern over the high unemployment rate in the country and called for stronger laws to ensure better working conditions for workers.
Peneyambeko Alina Munkawa, officer-in-charge at the International Labor Office Country Office for Zambia, emphasized the importance of providing quality jobs to fight inequality and poverty. She noted that quality jobs enable people to support themselves and build their own futures, adding that economic and social systems should not only focus on achieving statistical targets but also address human needs and aspirations.
Brenda Tambatamba, minister of labor and social security, reiterated the government’s commitment to seeing improved job creation, noting that a well-managed labor sector is key to the economy’s performance. She said her ministry will continue to work with other stakeholders to promote the decent work agenda in the country.
Overall, the event underscored the importance of harmonious relationships between employers and employees, improving working conditions, and promoting quality job creation to fight inequality and poverty in the country.
