CHALI MULENGA
Livingstone
The Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers has introduced a raft of welfare initiatives for its members, with Government commending the move as it reviews labour laws to address challenges arising from the digital transformation of workplaces.
Minister of Labour and Social Security Brenda Mwika Tambatamba said the union’s introduction of support programmes such as baby hampers, hospital hampers, funeral grants and retirement packages reflects a strong commitment to improving members’ wellbeing.
Ms Tambatamba also launched ZUFI Financial Services, a subsidiary of the union, which will provide soft loans to members at affordable interest rates.
“These initiatives demonstrate focused leadership that prioritises the interests and welfare of workers,” she said.
The minister was speaking yesterday when she officially opened the 14th Quadrennial Conference of ZUFIAW in Livingstone, held under the theme “Digital Dawn: Transforming Work, Empowering Workers and Protecting Our Voices.”
Meanwhile, Ms Tambatamba said Government is reviewing the Employment Code Act No. 3 of 2019 and the Industrial and Labour Relations Act to respond to emerging issues in the labour market driven by technological change.
She said Government is also in the process of repealing the Apprenticeship Act and replacing it with a Work-Based Learning Bill aimed at strengthening skills development.
Ms Tambatamba noted that digital technologies, automation and artificial intelligence are rapidly transforming workplaces, creating both opportunities and risks.
“Technology should serve people and must not become a pathway to job losses or erosion of workers’ rights,” she said.
She said while digitalisation has the potential to enhance productivity and efficiency, there is need to ensure workers are equipped with relevant skills to adapt.
“Workers must be empowered through training so that they remain competitive in evolving work environments,” Ms Tambatamba said.
She also stressed the need to safeguard fairness and transparency in digital workplaces, warning against the misuse of technology to exploit workers or infringe on their privacy.
The minister said unions have a critical role to play in protecting workers’ voices, adding that digital platforms should strengthen, not weaken, collective bargaining.
She urged unions to embrace digital tools to improve communication, mobilisation and participation among members.
Ms Tambatamba said Government will continue promoting social dialogue through platforms such as the Tripartite Consultative Labour Council in collaboration with labour bodies including the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions.
She added that compliance with labour laws remains a priority, with the ministry conducting inspections and operating a toll-free contact centre to handle labour-related concerns.
Ms Tambatamba said Government, under President Hakainde Hichilema, remains committed to leveraging technology for economic growth through initiatives such as the establishment of the Ministry of Technology and Science.
She urged delegates to use the conference to chart a clear path on how unions will adapt to the changing world of work and ensure that digital transformation benefits workers.
The minister declared the conference officially open.
The Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers (ZUFIAW) has urged Government and employers to safeguard workers’ rights amid rapid digital transformation, warning that technological advancement risks deepening inequalities if left unchecked.
Speaking during the official opening of the 14th Quadrennial Conference in Livingstone on Thursday, ZUFIAW president Marina Mwape Kabonga said the rise of digital platforms, artificial intelligence and automation must not come at the expense of job security and fair labour practices.
The conference, held under the theme “Digital Dawn: Transforming Work, Empowering Workers and Protecting Our Voices,” attracted labour leaders, union representatives and international delegates.
Ms Kabonga said while digital innovation presents opportunities for productivity and efficiency, it also brings challenges such as job displacement, workplace surveillance and widening income gaps.
“Technological progress must go hand in hand with social progress. Digital transformation must not become a tool for exclusion, exploitation or inequality,” she said.
She stressed the need for workers to be equipped with new skills to adapt to changing job demands and called for inclusive policies that allow employees to participate in decisions on the introduction and use of technology in workplaces.
Ms Kabonga further said unions must reposition themselves to remain relevant by embracing digital tools to improve communication, organisation and representation of members.
She said ZUFIAW, which has existed for over six decades, remains committed to promoting decent work, fair wages and social justice, adding that these principles must now extend into the digital space.
“Decent work in the digital era must include job security in the face of automation, protection from unjust technological practices and inclusion in decision-making processes,” she said.
Ms Kabonga also raised concern over emerging workplace practices such as algorithm-based decision-making and opaque performance systems, warning that these could worsen existing inequalities if not regulated.
She noted that workers continue to face unfair disciplinary processes, limited career progression and pay disparities, which risk being amplified by digital systems.
She reaffirmed the union’s commitment to defending labour rights and ensuring that existing agreements between unions and employers are upheld even as the nature of work evolves.
Ms Kabonga called for the adaptation of labour laws to address new forms of employment, including digital and platform-based work, stating that legal frameworks must remain responsive to emerging challenges.
She emphasised the importance of unity among workers, saying fragmentation weakens the labour movement’s ability to respond effectively to rapid workplace changes.
“Workers are not expendable in the face of technological change. They are the drivers of innovation and must be central to all transformation processes,” she said.
And Minister of Labour and Social Security Brenda Mwika Tambatamba, who officiated at the conference, called for stronger collaboration between Government, unions and employers to ensure that digital transformation benefits all stakeholders.
The four-day conference is expected to deliberate on strategies to strengthen worker protection, enhance skills development and position the union to effectively respond to the evolving world of work.
THE Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers (ZUFIAW) has urged Government and stakeholders to safeguard workers’ rights as the country’s financial sector undergoes rapid digital transformation.
Speaking during the official opening of the 14th Quadrennial Conference in Livingstone yesterday, ZUFIAW General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer Kasapo Sundrea Kabende said the rise of digital financial services, including mobile money platforms and unsecured digital lending, is fundamentally changing the nature of work.
Mr Kabende said the shift from traditional banking to digital platforms has increased access to financial services but warned that it also presents new risks for workers, including job insecurity and changing skill demands.
“Transformation of work is already here. People are increasingly using digital platforms instead of conventional banking systems, with mobile service providers now offering financial services such as loans,” he said.
He stressed that while the digital transition presents opportunities for growth and innovation, it must not come at the expense of workers’ welfare.
Mr Kabende said ZUFIAW is prioritising skills development to ensure its members remain competitive in the evolving labour market.
“We must empower workers by ensuring they upskill and reskill to remain relevant to the industry,” he said.
He added that failure to adapt could result in widespread displacement of workers who lack digital competencies.
Mr Kabende further called for strengthened labour organisation in the face of technological change, noting that collective action remains critical in protecting workers’ interests.
“We must continue to organise ourselves during this digital dawn to protect our voices. Issues of job security, decent work, social justice and favourable conditions of service must remain central,” he said.
The conference, being held under the theme *“Digital Dawn: Transforming Work, Empowering Workers and Protecting Our Voices,”* has drawn participants from local and international trade unions, Government representatives and labour stakeholders.
He reaffirmed the union’s commitment to advocating for workers’ rights and ensuring that no worker is left behind in the transition to a digital economy.
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