The Zambia Union of Government and Allied Workers (UG) says it is opposed to the decision by National pensions scheme authority (NAPSA) of paying a paltry living allowance to its members.

Union deputy general secretary Mulipa Nkhata says his union would fight tooth and nail to ensure that its members get a fair deal out of the pension contributions other than to be given a living allowance only.

Mr. Nkhata in a company of the Zambia union of government and allied workers Southern province chairperson Roy Mupango and other officials said this in Kalomo yesterday when they met their members.

“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 urgency, 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 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 from next month.

During their interactions, the union leaders urged the members to be patient while the Union is still proposing better conditions of service.

They said that negotiations this year were hard since the country is facing some serious economic challenges caused by the drought situation.

The parties settled for K500 increment across the board.