By Moombe Hamoobola & Arnold Tutu
The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has called for swift action to end casualisation in the tourism sector, particularly in the country’s tourist capital, Livingstone.
ZCTU Secretary General JOY BEENE told ZNBC News in an interview that casualisation remains widespread in the tourism industry and requires urgent attention.
Dr. BEENE said it is disappointing that even large multinational hotels in Livingstone are engaging in casual employment practices.
He appealed to Tourism Minister RODNEY SIKUMBA and Minister of Labour and Social Security BRENDA TAMBATAMBA to work closely with unions in the sector to tackle the issue.
Dr. BEENE said casualisation should no longer have a place in the industry, adding that workers deserve decent, long-term and permanent contracts to improve their livelihoods.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, is considering measures to end casualisation in the hospitality industry.
The move follows repeated complaints about the practice in the sector.
Principal Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security MWAKA NDAWA said the casualisation of jobs that are permanent in nature contravenes Section 7 of the Employment Code Act No. 3 of 2019.
She said it is concerning that casualisation has become systemic, and called on employers to ensure that permanent work is carried out under permanent contracts.
Ms. NDAWA said breaches of Section 7 of the Employment Code Act attract a fine of up to 400,000 penalty units.
