The Zambia Union of Government and Allied Workers (UG) says it is also opposed to the decision by National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA) paying a paltry living allowance to its members who are contributing to the scheme when they retire.
Union Deputy General Secretary Mulipa Nkhata says the union would fight to ensure that its members who are contributing to NAPSA get a fair deal out of the pension contributions other than to be given a living allowance only.
Mr. Nkhata who was in the company of the Zambia Union of Government and Allied workers Southern province chairperson Roy Mupango and other officials said this in Kalomo when they met their members.
The team is on a tour of the region to explain to its members how they arrived to sign the K500.00 across the board salary increment that the government offered that will be effected in January next year.
“As UG, we say no to this, we have on several occasions tabled this matter with the ministry of labour as it is a labour issue. This matter is of extremely urgent, it has killed a lot of people, there is no way one is contributing to the public pensions scheme and he gets and lump sum when he retires alongside a monthly allowance but for those of you who are contributing to NAPSA you are only given a living allowance, no, we are going to fight this issue so that all of you get a fair deal out of your contribution,” Mr. Nkhata charged.
The union leaders also took time to explain some of the incentives of belonging to the UG and urged its members to be patient while proposing better conditions of service.
The leaders explained negotiations in 2024 were challenging due to the economic difficulties caused by the drought and further urged members to bear with the government.