By JAMES KUNDA –
THE Statutory Instrument (SI) signed last year to increase the retirement age from 55 to 65 years will soon be amended to make it relevant to the Zambian Labour industry.

. Shamenda

Labour and Social Security Minister Fackson Shamenda said in an interview yesterday that Government had revisited the Law assented by former Acting President Guy Scott in December and it will be amended after negotiations with the labour movement.
“Government and the labour movement are addressing the issue critically and we should wind up negotiations before the end of next month, after which the law will be passed in its new form,” he said.
Mr Shamenda said in the ongoing negotiations between Government and the labour movement, it has been proposed that the retirement age be pushed up from 55 to 60 years.
“With the mandatory age being 60 years, 55 will be the early retirement age while 65; will be the retirement age for those who feel they can continue working even after the age of 60,” he said.
Mr Shamenda said Government would harmonise the retirement age structure across the public and private service so that workers are rewarded their rightful benefits at the end of service.
Meanwhile, Mr Shamenda announced that several public service unions had commenced negotiations to deal with distortions emanating from the wage freeze.
He said the Government wanted distortions in the public service structure addressed to promote a win-win situation for the employee and the employer.