April 19, 2011
Scores of workers at the Ndola stadium site yesterday downed tools, demanding better conditions of service from their employer, Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Company (AFECC).
The workers are also demanding to know if they will be paid gratuities once the multi-million dollar structure is completed.
Some workers found outside the construction site claimed their conditions of service were poor and that they were getting K1,500 per hour.
Workers who spoke on condition of anonymity said they wanted AFECC to be paying them K5,000 per hour and also improve on safety attire.
They appealed to the Government to intervene in their plight, saying the kind of work they did was not equivalent to the salaries they got every month.
With the 40,100-capacity stadium set to be completed by August this year, the workers also demanded to know if they would be paid gratuity at the end of their contracts.
“We want to know who is going to pay us gratuity once the stadium is completed. The Government should intervene because we don’t know whether there will be any form of benefits at the expiry of our contracts,” the workers said.
They alleged that AFECC was not even paying leave days to some workers who had been relieved of their duties.
Others said since they were employed, they have had no salary increments and no overtime allowances were being paid to them despite working for almost 10 hours a day.
AFECC officials refused to comment on the matter and referred all queries to Copperbelt Permanent Secretary, Villie Lombanya.
Flashaback: The workers at Ndola Stadium having their lunch
When contacted, Lombanya said he was waiting for a report from the police and District Commissioner Joshua Mutisa before commenting.
While other workers staged a protest outside, others were busy going about their routine duties at the site.
Police officers kept vigil as the workers remained camped a few metres from the stadium before later dispersing while construction works went on smoothly.
Recruitment of the workers started in May 2009, and AFECC, who are the contractors for the stadium, asked the Government to help with the exercise In accordance with the Zambian labour laws.
[Times of Zambia]
32 Comments on "Ndola stadium workers down tools"
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Awe Sure on Tue, 19th Apr 2011 9:49 PM
Typical of poor Zambian labour laws. Vote PF for improved labour conditions in Zambia. Ni Mwamukolooo. Sorry for the politics dudes.
Zed diaspora on Tue, 19th Apr 2011 9:52 PM
“When contacted, Lombanya said he was waiting for a report from the police and District Commissioner Joshua Mutisa before commenting.”
Is this a police case or a labour flop case?
Zed diaspora on Tue, 19th Apr 2011 10:01 PM
Was this a Police Case?
Zed diaspora on Tue, 19th Apr 2011 10:02 PM
It is much easier to read than to comment on Zamfoot these days
Tatu saad on Tue, 19th Apr 2011 10:05 PM
Workers should fight for increament nt cutting there workng hours,coz they cup the little tht they getng thn fire thm and employ casual workers to complete the project,pa zed pa libola ba kamba,katwishi ichiwa ichafulaminako
Babanda on Tue, 19th Apr 2011 10:07 PM
Disappointing and hope that the matter can be expeditiously resolved so that the works can continue and the stadium can be ready in time for the AFCON qualifier against LIBYA.
Tatu saad on Tue, 19th Apr 2011 10:14 PM
Whats is been done on the roads infrastracture towards da stadium and the air port coz if Lusaka inter.air port is in tht shape i dont the ndola one.ndola residents up date us wit new pics about the stadium,here in s.a.we are geting jealous how our friends are doing it,hope the government wil learm somethng,to avoid accidents and conjetion afta socca games
Uzzi on Tue, 19th Apr 2011 10:43 PM
The government needs to intervene asap!!
chemical ali on Tue, 19th Apr 2011 10:43 PM
govt pliz do something and remember its election year!
SHIBWANGA on Tue, 19th Apr 2011 11:12 PM
Sata can’t improve labours laws because he has no personal laws himself. ZED DIASPORA its true that reading is better than commenting on this blog nowadays.
john on Tue, 19th Apr 2011 11:28 PM
Please improve the quality of your english zamfoot authors. How can you say “Bewary” of a dishonest group. What kind of English is that. Double check your work because at times it’s of poor quality.
Ba Zambia on Tue, 19th Apr 2011 11:30 PM
but what did the contract which they signed when starting work said about all these isssues? its an issue of collective bargaining, since they dont seem to be unionised each individual worker ought to have signed the contract and if there is none the worker stands to lose in such an industrial dispute
Jojo on Tue, 19th Apr 2011 11:38 PM
Am not surprised,it happens everywhere were there are chinese,what happened at collum coal mine in sinazongwe,workes protested against poor conditions and some ended up being shot,a few weeks ago workers at chambishi copper smelter downed tools,the same thing happened at NFC mining..we need that stadium to be completed in time,
Jojo on Tue, 19th Apr 2011 11:43 PM
It is you who needs to improve…
Awe Sure on Tue, 19th Apr 2011 11:49 PM
Shibwanga, just like your name suggest you are the one without personal laws. But your lwas are mu bwanga.
Awe Sure on Tue, 19th Apr 2011 11:50 PM
Your laws are mu bwanga
What Now on Tue, 19th Apr 2011 11:51 PM
Why should John improve his english ka jojo naiwe? John is just giving Zamfoot some advice.
Chigondo on Wed, 20th Apr 2011 12:02 AM
Its election time guys. If you dont get what you want now, you may never. Go to RB not Lombanya. Houses and what not are going for free. I wish he could prevail on Zambian Breweries to halve the price of my favorite Mosi. My vote is still secrete though.
chiti chitundu on Wed, 20th Apr 2011 12:14 AM
it will be fine im sure… part of life. even in southafrica these issues came about but hey everything went well…. it will be fine.
SHIBWANGA on Wed, 20th Apr 2011 12:15 AM
Its better for me to have mu bwanga laws than having no laws at all. A person with bad manners is better than one without manners for there is room to change from bad manners to good manners. the one with no manners has to move to bad manners still. I am still ahead of Sata and i will never allow him to be my leader. I have sight and i can’t be led by one without sight.
Seen from afar on Wed, 20th Apr 2011 12:59 AM
The Chinese business is a constant force now in Africa, they are widespread. The Chinese, however, are not famed for their attention to workers rights. Seeing the extent of buisness they intend to do in Africa, i hope with all my heart that they are made to yield to workers rights. Governments must enforce on the Chinese strict policies to respect the people they employ.
We appreciate custom, we appreciate that we will have a new stadium, but we should not have to sacrifice human rights and the peoples dignity in order to achieve this business. We must see development that extends to employees long term well being. We must see a willingness from the Chinese to enrich the communities they work in and an effort from the Chinese to leave a positive lasting legacy comparable to the British. We must see the Zambian governments sticking to and upholding that pledge of this sort.
Anything less, if the Chinese are unwilling, they must be made to pay a fuller cost.
Amandla on Wed, 20th Apr 2011 1:29 AM
Too little, too late! It is sad the workers had to wait all this long to cry for attention. Of course I know fears of being dismissed and missing even on the little to help families played a role. Some Mopani management gets up $16,000 a month! The Zambian labourer about $300 a month! Zambia twasebana. Even if we are accused of being anti something I think this is unbearable! When copper runs out you will cry because you will remain deserted with the white elephant like Kabwe! Help the labourers at Ndola too, please!
Big Steve from SA on Wed, 20th Apr 2011 2:04 AM
I am with you on this one i cant fathom the idea that it is possible for people to think Sata can do any good.
Anyway away from the politics, this sort of thing was ever so prevelant here in SA during constrution of the worldcup stadia and yet still al the stadia were complete. I always think these big constrution companies expect this and always seem to have a plan b. Just watch the space, this will not deter expected completion dates. The Chinese are terrible even to their own people when it comes to work conditions but they get the job done on time. Dont get me wrong
Big Steve from SA on Wed, 20th Apr 2011 2:05 AM
Dont get me wrong I am not saying it is okay though.
Seen from afar on Wed, 20th Apr 2011 2:19 AM
This is the other side of things Big Steve, you are right on this. I’m surprised that we have not had more complaints… perhaps because the workers can feel pride for the first modern stadium…
I commented earlier, my comment has not shown up yet.
Seen from afar on Wed, 20th Apr 2011 2:22 AM
It’s not ok when you consider the extent the Chinese are working and the precedence bad standards of workers rights and benefits can bring.
Anonymous on Wed, 20th Apr 2011 2:45 AM
Its only in Zambia where a foreigner can do ANYTHING and get away with it because we are a PEACEFUL nation.Chinese shut Zambian, Msiska is about to be shown to door . Its more safe to be a foreigner
Asilikale on Wed, 20th Apr 2011 3:13 AM
Eheheheheheh
Slim on Wed, 20th Apr 2011 5:50 AM
Underpaying workers in Zambia did not come with Chinese! It is a typical Zambian practice. Almost all security firms pay peanuts 2 their workers, save 4 a few foreign companies. House servants, garden boys, maids, drivers, shop assistants, workmen of companies subcontracted with mining entinties, bus drivers, secretaries of sidos, barmen, waitresses, farm workers, plumbers, even Satas drivers and football players……..the list is endless….,. As long as the company is Zambian owned slave wages and conditions r the order of the day! Shameless people. I was paying my secretary K450 pin which wasnt much, but, she confided in me that at compensation house in Kitwe her salary was far much better than other girls. On average K200pin. U have the audacity 2 point at the misdeeds of the Chinese, when we r worse! Am not supporting the chinks far from it. Copper prices r booming but the trickle down effect hasnt been felt o CB, u kno y? Major mining tasks hv been contracted 2 local firms run by Zambians; workers r on personal 2 holder wages….. no pension, no housing allowance, no transport allowance, employment is over as soon as the task is over. Sadly 4 our footballers its game over as quickly as Gentile breaks yo leg.! They hv no union, no minimum wage. You talk of Chinese just 2 score political points. It sounds politically smart 2 criticise the Chinks, factually you dont mean it and care less; SHUT UP.
Chax on Wed, 20th Apr 2011 6:10 AM
Maybe the FAZ President should also be a choncholi so that even if he messes up we do not criticize him. Foreigners in zed are so immune to our laws that the can do ANYTHING AND GET AWAY WITH IT
bima on Wed, 20th Apr 2011 7:14 AM
Ba CHAX you have just ripped my ribs apart !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Uncle Bobs on Thu, 21st Apr 2011 5:48 AM
Since you have enough time up your sleeves, look at the business proposition I have thrown in your face via email. Ba Big Steve SA urgently send me your email address on 260977 781007