Govt castigates lying social media

IT IS fake news that funds have been released to pay government workers who were in employment between 1990 and 2018, Labour Permanent Secretary Barnaby Mulenga has clarified.

Mr Mulenga said that information circulating on social media that workers who had served government for 28 years would be entitled to a bonus of K26, 000 from the department of labour was false and advised the public to ignore it.

“Please be informed that the Department of Labour is mandated to mediate and settle disputes between an employer and employee and it’s from the outcome of the dispute resolution where an employer is found wanting that he or she will be required to pay the employee through the department of labour,” he said.

Speaking during a media briefing, Mr Mulenga said it was imperative to note that the department did not keep money relating to employment of any persons.

And Labour Commissioner Chanda Kaziya advised members of public to report labour related matters to the department.

He said the commissioner did not only deal with matters that have been reported but also those that may come through other mediums.

Mr Kaziya observed that many people label labour officers as being corrupt because most employees wanted the commission to rule in their favour.

He said that the labour office did not pass judgement based on one side but ensured it heard both sides of parties in a labour dispute.

“If we rule against the employee we are always labelled as corrupt, sometimes it’s not always that the employer is in the wrong, ” he said.

Information circulating on social media that workers who had served government for 28 years would be entitled to a bonus of K26, 000 from the department of labour was false and advised the public to completely ignore it.

— Mr Mulenga.