ZAMBIA’S COTTON DECENT WORK GUIDELINES LAUNCHED

By JOSIAH MPOFU

GOVERNMENT has launched Zambia’s Decent Work Guidelines to improve the welfare of workers in the cotton sub-sector.

Labour Permanent Secretary Zachariah Luhanga, said the development of the Guidelines will help to protect workers’ rights, ensuring fair wages and improve productivity in the cotton value chain.

Mr. Luhanga explained that the intervention will not only promote fair labour standards but also attract more farmers and investors to the cotton industry.

Henoted that this will assist in securing raw materials for Mulungushi Textiles which is being revived and revitalise Kabwe’s economy as well as the entirecountry.

“The government believes these interventions will not only promote fair labour standards but also attract more farmers and investors to the cotton industry thereby securing raw materials for Mulungushi Textiles and revitalising Kabwe’s economy,” Mr. Luhanga indicated.

Mr. Luhanga added that the guidelines will ensure a steady supply of cotton for Mulungushi Textiles’ operations.

“Fromtime immemorial, cotton has changed economies, propelled industrial growth, and shaped the textile sector. Despite its significance, the cotton industry in Zambia still faces challenges of low production and productivity, labour and sustainability. Today, however, hope stirs once again, as the cotton industry is getting the attention it deserves,” Mr. Luhanga said.

Speaking in a speech read for him in Lusaka by Labour Human Resource Director Jean Chilengi, Mr Luhanga, said the Guidelines will further address challenges such as poor working conditions, low wages and limited social protection for cotton sector workers.

“The development of the Decent Work Guidelines is a step towards protecting workers’ rights, ensuring fair wages, and improving productivity in the cotton value chain. This forms part of a broader strategy to promote fair labour practices and boost productivity in the sector,” Mr. Luhanga.

And Trust Africa Representative Bethule Nyamunde explained that in order to rebuild the cotton subsector, Trust Africa through the RECLAIM Sustainability Programme formulated the Decent Work Guidelines to improve the welfare of workers in the cotton sub-sector.

She indicated that operationalising Decent Work Guidelines for the cotton subsector is crucial in the realisation of farmers needs because it will ensure productivity, rateability and growth.

Meanwhile, SOLIDARIDAD Program Manager Pamudzai Bota has emphasized the need to motivate farmers in order to increase their production potential as the current production capacity was low.

And Cotton Board of Zambia Chairperson Raymond Mphundu stressed that the Cotton Act is being reviewed to create a more enabling legal framework for cotton growers and buyers.

Mr. Mphundu said cotton policies are crucial for ensuring the sustainability of the cotton industry and promoting responsible farming practices.

Operationalising Decent Work Guidelines is key because the cotton sector contributes significantly to the economy as well as to the livelihoods of millions of rural small-scale farmers in Zambia.

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