Transporters call for minimum wage formation

GOVERNMENT through the Ministry of Labour should expedite the formulation of transport sector minimum wage to reduce the labour tension in the sector, Petroleum Association of Zambia (PTAZ) spokesperson Benson Tembo has said.

And Mr Tembo has urged Government to stop renewing licenses for foreign truck drivers working in Zambia so as to create jobs for citizens.

Mr Tembo has advised Zambian truck drivers working in South Africa to come back home to avoid risking their lives following continued attacks on foreign drivers working in that country.

“We would only advise our brothers that have gone to work in South Africa to come back home, there is enough space instead of risking their lives in a foreign land, moreover there are so many foreign drivers that have come to work in Zambia and our laws are very tolerant and the best they can do is come here under the prevailing conditions they will be preferred,” Mr Tembo said.

Mr Tembo said Government through the Ministry of Labour was working on coming up with a sector minimum wage to reduce the labor tension in the transport sector.

Mr Tembo said most employers have not been following the industrial and labour relations Act hence need for industrial minimum wage.

He has also urged the labour federation such ZCTU and Federation of Trade Unions to encourage Transport sector unions to protect the interest of their members.

He said the union for drivers should speed up the collective bargaining to come with up with a collective agreement to favor their members.

Several tanker drivers from different companies on Thursday protested against travelling to South Africa for fear of being harmed.

Foreign drivers have come under attack by rampaging mobs in South Africa who have accused them of taking their jobs and accepting poor conditions of service.

The drivers have also complained of poor conditions of service and appealed to government to intervene.