BARGAINING IN LIMBO

By NOEL IYOMBWA

THE National Union for Technical Lecturers and Allied Workers (NUTELAW) has called for the re-examination of the legal parameters surrounding the Emoluments Commission saying it is hampering collective agreements.

The Emoluments Commission was enacted through a constitutional amendment in 2022 and provides a framework for determining and managing emoluments for various public officers as well as parastatals, with the aim of enhancing the capacity of state organs to attract and retain qualified staff.

However, NUTELAW president Emmanuel Mwila has called for a review of the legal framework of the Emoluments Commission.

In an interview Mr. Mwila explained that this should be done in order to address the complications it brings to collective bargaining.

He said that with the introduction of the Commission, collective bargaining had become complicated as it had introduced a third party, which was against International Labour Organization protocols.

“The introduction of the Commission has resulted in the collective bargaining to become complicated because it has introduced a third party which is against the International Labour Organization protocols.

“It is more less like we are discussing or negotiating with a third party where management will just come and say ok we have been told by emolument that you cannot go beyond this and it is in black and white. What we are asking for, as a union, is to put a consideration on the ILO Convention on free bargaining,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mwila disclosed that only one institution out of its 23 member institutions has completed the bargaining agreements for the 2024 conditions of service.