BY Martin Lubasi Lubasi
Assistant Labour Commissioner, management and drivers at ALISTAIR LOGISTICS in Kapiri Mposhi on Monday held a discussion where they put forward several demands, including that they should be paid US$20 daily for the entire international trips
The meeting which was chaired by the assistant Labour Commissioner Charles Muwowo brought to the fore alot of grievances presented by the drivers which they wanted management to rectify.
During the meeting, the drivers said the current fuel calculations given to them was inadequate. They demanded it to be based on actual truck mileage, and not GPS distance, and that management should experience the routes first hand to understand the terrain.
The drivers demanded that all international per diem must be paid in U.S dollars for easier transactions and that payment should be made via the Korridor platform and not MTN mobile money, which they said had poor accessibility and high fees in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The drivers demanded that the entire international trip, including days in Zambia, must be paid at the international rate of $20/ per day and not the local K100. They further demanded the full $20/per day rate immediately when due, as opposed to the current $10.
They demanded that drivers transporting dangerous goods should be paid their risk allowances as mandated by the law under Statutory Instrument (SI) No. 93 of 2021, with back pay.
They complained that drivers worked extended hours like Sundays and holidays without corresponding overtime pay, as required by the employment Code Act.
And on working days, the drivers complained that they were no scheduled rest days, and if a driver wanted to go home they were dropped off and made to wait for weeks or a month before being assigned another truck. They submitted that after a round trip, every driver should be given at least two days to attend to personal and family matters.
Drivers have also demanded that they should be paid lashing money at all loading points.
They complained that the policy of dropping drivers from the truck in faraway locations for misconduct was punitive as they must bear the high cost of transportation back home, and further demanded that disciplinary drop-offs occur at the yard in Kapiri Mposhi to reduce on costs.
And responding to the Drivers concerns, Muwowo tasked management to look into their plight and work on improving their wellbeing as they were the economy drivers driving the economy of the country.
He said drivers just like any other person needed to rest and attend to other personal and family matters, and they also need to be given the same privilege.
Muwowo further advised management to make sure that they availed signed contract forms to the drivers and other disciplinary code of conduct for them to acquaint themselves with when on duty.
