Federation of Employers play a key role in social dialogue

The Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE) will be playing a key role in the tripartite discussions between government, labour unions and the Zambian business community on improving the Zambian economy. That was one of the main conclusions to be drawn from the address minister Fackson Shamenda (Labour) made at the East, Central and Southern Africa Employers’ Organisations Conference that was held at the end of February in Livingstone, Zambia.

Shamenda was very conciliatory  towards ZFE after the serious argument he and the employers’ federation had last year about the rise of the minimum wage. ZFE heavily protested the wage rise saying it would be disastrous for the economy and for employment.

The minister spoke at length about social and economic issues for an audience of employers’ organisations from 10 African countries. The employers’ organisations in East and Southern Africa meet on a regular basis to exchange knowledge and experiences.

The 2013 conference focussed on the worldwide trend for responsible and sustainable business and its effects on Africa, as well as on the influence employers’ organisations can have on the quality of their national laws regarding labour ,  laws that are often unnecessarily hampering business.