By CHATULA KANGALI –

THE Zambia United Local Authorities Workers Union (ZULAWU) says the conditions of its division four workers are still not good despite the recent salary increment of K250 across the country.
In October last year, Government awarded a K250 salary increment to all council workers countrywide.
General Secretary Kingsley Zulu in an interview during the week said there was more to be done to improve the conditions of division four workers in all local authorities.
He said most division four workers were paid by their respective councils and that their salaries were slightly above the minimum wage.
“Our division four workers’ conditions of service are still not good despite the salary increment. Their salaries are slightly above the minimum wage but those of their colleagues in the civil service are higher with the lowest getting K3,000,” he said.
Mr Zulu, however, commended Government for the salary increment that was awarded to local authorities workers countrywide.
He appealed to Cabinet office to consider applying the same principles of pay applied to the civil service to council workers too.
“We all have the same principle guidelines. The same principle that is applied to the main stream public pay policy should also apply to our council workers especially those in division four,” he said.
Mr Zulu added that the union would start negotiating for improved conditions of services for its workers in August this year.
He urged Government to expedite the job evaluation and re-grading exercise which is expected to see further improved conditions of services at the end of it.
The General Secretary said council workers would be expected to be remunerated according to qualifications after the job evaluation and regrading exercise.