LABOUR DISPUTES RISE IN LIVINGSTONE SCHOOLS

THELivingstone District Administration is concerned about the increasing number of labour related disputes in government run schools over issues pertaining to the minimum wage.

Acting District Commissioner Harriet Kawina observed that the concern follow complaints that Parents Teachers Associations (PTA) were not meeting the minimum wage for workers engaged by schools in the district.

Ms. Kawina said the issue had the potential to spillover and affect the communities if not addressed.

Speaking during a sensitisation meeting between PTA operated schools and a team from the labour office held at Linda Secondary School in Livingstone on Tuesday, Ms. Kawina said government through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security was committed to ensuring both employers and employees employed by PTAs were protected.

The acting DC stated that it was important for both parties to adhere to the stipulated and required standards of employment in line with the minimum wage.

‘If this issue is not addressed, it has potential to reduce on productivity... So my appeal is to the PTAs to venture into other income generating ways so that you can raise enough money to pay these people you have employed rather than depending on fees paid by learners,” she said.

“This meeting is meant enlighten you the PTAs on the labour laws concerning the minimum wage on the people you engage. It is my hope that at the end of this meeting, we will have reduced labour complaints and increase on productivity,” said Ms. Kawina.

She noted that government appreciated the efforts by PTAs to run schools adding that without them, it would have been difficult for government to operate the schools.

Earlier, Livingstone District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Eden Kambunga informed the gathering that the office of the DC and Labour office had been receiving unprecedented reports from government schools on labour matters.

Mr. Kambunga said that it was against that background that a meeting was called so that the complaints can be harmonised.

“We are here to look at issues that concern labour matters in schools... The DC’s office and Labour office have received unprecedented reports about some of the complaints coming from our establishment regarding the people we have engaged as PTAs,” he said.