THE National Union of Communication Workers (NUCW) and Zamtel management have agreed on a conditional separation package to be paid to all workers before the firm is partially privatised, NUCW general secretary, Clement Kasonde has said.

Mr Kasonde said in Lusaka yesterday that the conditional separation package agreed between management and the union included three months salary for each year served, two months salary for repatriation and one month in lieu of notice.

Mr Kasonde appealed to Zamtel workers to remain calm, saying that the general secretary's circular No.GS/BR 10/9 of October 24, 2009 sent to all districts was still binding.

He said the union and management decided to negotiate the package because the company was about to bring on board a new equity partner and the solvency of the telecommunications firm was never discussed.

Mr Kasonde was clarifying a report carried in yesterday's edition of the Times of Zambia stating that Zamtel workers had placed themselves on temporary redundancies between now and the time that the company was sold.

The Government has shortlisted eight international companies and consortia as bidders in the sale of a 75 per cent stake in Zamtel.