3 November 2009
MORE than 500 unionised workers at Lamasat International Limited in Lusaka yesterday downed tools and demonstrated against management for allegedly being reluctant to sign a collective agreement with the union to effect 40 per cent pay rise.
But managing director Mahmoud Ahmed said in an interview that negotiations on the new collective agreement were on-going.
The company manufactures different polythene products such as weholite sewer pipes and clamp saddles.
The workers, who gathered along Kafue Road chanting anti-management slogans and displaying posters, complained of poor conditions of service.
They said the lowest paid Zambian worker got K412,000 per month while the highest paid Lebanese was paid more than K10 million.
"We get K3,200 as night allowance and we work with no protective clothing. Our management has stopped giving us milk and there is a choking smoke from products we produce.
"The environment inside these buildings is inhuman. We are suffering though we need money we also want better working conditions," a worker who sought anonymity complained.
Mr Ahmed said, currently the management and the union were still having negotiations and would sign the collective agreement as soon as the talks were finalised.
"It is true we are listening to the plight of our workers. We delayed to sign the collective agreement because we are still negotiating with their union members," Mr Ahmed said.
Human resources manager Benwa Kapusa confirmed that the workers were paid K18,000 per week as night allowance and that the lowest paid worker got K412,000.
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