The Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) has welcomed Government's planned policy to harmonise pay for expatriates and Zambians performing similar work.
MUZ general secretary Oswell Munyenyembe said in an interview at the weekend that the union was looking forward to the policy framework, which would help stop the trend by most foreign investors from disadvantaging locals.
Mr Munyenyembe said the policy would effectively compel the investors to rely more on Zambians instead of bringing in expatriates.
He said the mining sector was more prone to having expatriates brought in on jobs that Zambians could easily handle and that it was high time the practice was curtailed.
"We welcome this move to harmonise salaries and in fact it is long overdue because locals have been disadvantaged," he said.
Mr Munyenyembe urged Government to ensure that the harmonising was done in such a way that Zambians' pay was adjusted upwards to equal that for expatriates.
Labour Deputy Minister Simon Kachimba recently said Government was working on a draft policy framework to ensure equal work and pay among foreign and local workers.
Mr Kachimba said there was need to level the playing field in remuneration and conditions of service because there currently were huge disparities between them.
He said the policy would also have succession plans for investors to train locals to allow them take over from expatriates.
The minister expected to effect the policy this year after a technical team completed its work and a draft presented to Parliament.
