The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says collective bargaining in 2025 has become increasingly constrained, particularly in the public service, due to restrictive government directives that have narrowed negotiations and weakened workers’ ability to cope with rising living costs. ZCTU President, Blake Mulala, said bargaining outcomes had often failed to reflect inflation, productivity and cost-of-living realities, resulting in growing frustration, low morale and declining trust in negotiation processes. Speaking during an end-of-year media briefing in Lusaka, Mulala warned against using fiscal discipline to undermine labour rights.
“Collective bargaining must remain free and conducted in good faith, warning that fiscal discipline should not be used to suspend workers’ constitutional and international labour rights,” he said. Turning to pensions, Mulala said workers continued to struggle even after retirement despite years of contributions, noting that the absence of a lump-sum payment option had left many retirees unable to meet immediate needs such as housing and medical care. “Delays in reforming the National Pension Scheme Authority had weakened confidence in the social security system, reinforcing workers’ fears about income security after retirement,” Mulala said.
He stressed that pension funds should serve contributors rather than institutional rigidity, arguing that meaningful reform was essential if economic gains were to benefit workers throughout their lives. Mulala also raised concern over violations of the right to organise, particularly in the private sector. He cited continued intimidation, casual contracts and union-busting in the hospitality industry, while agricultural workers were denied union access and paid below the minimum wage.
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“Such practices deepened exploitation and reinforced inequality, adding that economic growth built on silenced labour could not be considered inclusive,” he said. He called on government to strengthen labour inspections and enforce sanctions, stressing that workers’ rights must be protected for economic gains to have real meaning. On public service negotiations, Mulala said workers had exercised patience as talks continued, noting that ZCTU had engaged government at the highest level and remained hopeful for positive outcomes, while warning that prolonged delays only compound financial stress.
Addressing corruption, Mulala said the abuse of public resources continued to undermine service delivery and public trust, with workers ultimately bearing the cost through poor services and lost opportunities. He urged investigative institutions to act independently, recover misappropriated funds and ensure accountability without political interference. On health, Mulala said workers continued to struggle to access quality services despite contributing to the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA), citing governance challenges that have weakened confidence in the scheme.
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