09/05/2025
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Labour Matters:
Innovate, maximize home grown solutions-NUCIAW
……..as Govt calls for social dialogue, avert industrial unrest
7 May. Lusaka (Zambia Informer) ------Innovation in industrial production spurred by maximum utilization of local raw guided by sustained social dialogue between employer and employee is Zambia’s pillar for sustained economic emancipation, a labour union has observed.
And Good Time Steel, Zambia’s leading steel Manufacturer with markets in Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi, among other African countries has backed the Government’s resolve to maximize home grown solutions for a sustainable tomorrow.
The steel giant pledges to adapt the initiative to bolster productivity and job creation and help plug the country’s rising unemployment levels.
The National Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers (NUCIW) urges the private sector to introspect and re-design its systems by encouraging innovation in collaboration with employees by utilizing local raw materials in production of goods and services and build an inclusive economy.
Speaking during the annual Good Time Steel labour day-award ceremony themed: “Shaping Zambia’s future of Work through home ground solutions for inclusive economic growth”, NUCIAW Senior Regional Secretary Frederick said.
He challenged industry to re-design their systems in collaboration with employees and jointly build an inclusive economy using local raw material for output.
Mukunga regretted the heavy reliant on foreign raw material by majority players in the industry for their productivity at the expense of the local innovation, contributing to the estimated 40 percent job deficiency, chiefly the youths.
Citing Good Time Steel for its “scrap metal” innovation for production and supply of quality, safe, sustainable steel including automotive, construction, household appliances and packaging within and to foreign markets urged industry to switch to local raw material for sustained productivity.
The inward approach will help reduce glaring inequality gaps chiefly sidelining the majority rural-based populace.
“The future cannot be built by Government lone. It demands collaboration from trade unions and employers, entrepreneurs who believe in local innovation, educators who align callicula with the demands of the Zambian economy,” Mukunga said.
He challenged employees to join and innovate with managements to bolster productivity in industry using local raw material for durable output.
“The tools to shape our future are already with us-in our soil, in our hands, and in our minds. Let’ strive to build a Zambia where economic progress is our minds, let’s strive to build Zambia where economic progress I not measured by GDP alone, but by many how many of us rise together”
He commended Good Time Steel for its exemplary consideration to utilize local raw material and its unwavering support to workers and contributing to economic growth despite the prevailing economic headwinds.
Good Time Steel managing director, Jacky Huang pledges to maximise local innovations in its productivity agenda for sustainable tomorrow as a going concern.
The company will endeavor to work with Government in bolstering economic growth and job creation while expanding and continues investing in the country as espoused under the International Labour Organisation (ILO) laws and statutes.
Huang pledged improved conditions of service for workers and increase its labour force by 500 from next year from the current 1,300 currently employed and stationed in Lusaka, Kitwe and Kasumbalesa near the border with DR Congo.
The company had at inception in 2005 in Kitwe, employed 80. It has since raised job opportunities to 1,300 currently and seeks to raise the employment opportunities by 500 despite economic and health headwinds, with pledge to retain labour.
Mr. Huang has since attributed the company's growth, branch expansions, and increased investment across the country to co-existence with employees, with the company creating over 95% of its workforce to Zambians.
And Good Time Steel has reiterated its unwavering commitment to continue working with communities within their jurisdictions and provide various services through Corporate Social Responsibility.
The company recently built and commissioned an ultra-modern Police Post in Chinika to curb the escalating criminal activities in Lusaka. It remains committed to extend such gestures in areas where it operates and Help Other People Emerge through CSRs.
Good Time Steel Group Human Resources Manager disclosed that the Labour Day awards were a motivation to workers to encourage their sustained productivity and help in the growth the company.
The company, has as an incentive, raised beneficiaries by 40 percent from the 100 that were recognized in 2023. It aims to raise the recipients next year to over 200 and increase further, a catch for high production.
Meanwhile Zambia’s Labour Commission Givens Muntengwa challenged workers and employers to promote social dialogue to enhance industrial harmony and productivity.
Social dialogue, the commissioner stresses, is key to maintaining a positive and productive work environment and addressing labour relations conflicts, giving rise to strike actions.
He urged employer and employees to co-exist and enhance productivity noting that social dialogue was important in averting industrial unrests. He challenged employees to appreciate and understand their terms and conditions for engaged.
He urged Human Resource Managers to help pacify over possible work stoppages while providing a link between management and workers for sustained productivity noting: “a motivated workforce is a driver to sustained productivity and company growth”
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pictures: Zambia Informer
