February 2007
Abandoned Workers Forced To Walk 180 KM
By Monica Kunda-Tembo
A CONTRACTOR of Mansa-Luwingu road in Luapula Province has been accused of abandoning casual workers forcing, them to walk 180 km back to Mansa.
One of the workers, John Besa of Chief Chimese's area in Mansa, told the Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) that a local constructor from PELOC Constructors employed him and 25 others to work on the Mansa-Luwingu road but later allegedly abandoned them.
He said that on January 6 this year when they were employed, the contractor promised them that he would be providing food and refreshment at regular basis for the period of 21 days that they were to spend at the site. Besa said after two weeks, some workers fell sick and the food run out so the workers phoned the contractor, who allegedly did not respond.
He added that this forced them to walk back to Mansa for three days, covering 180km.
Besa said when he got to Mansa, he reported the case to the LRF, seeking help and advise.
During the mediation at the centre, the contractor denied abandoning the workers but told Mansa paralegal Evaristo Chanda that the workers were impatient.
He also claimed that the workers did not adhere to the initial contract agreement of staying at the site for 21 days.
He however admitted that the workers were left to supervise themselves therefore there was increased tension whenever an emergency cropped up.
PELOC management promised to pay the workers their dues as soon as they were through with their work.
Chanda said it was against Zambian labour laws (Caps 268-270) to mistreat workers or subject them to harsh working conditions.
"The Legal Resources Foundation shall not hesitate to report such employers to relevant authorities so that their certificates of incorporation could be revoked," he warned.