LUSAKA, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Zambia on Sunday joined the rest of the world in commemorating this year's International Labor Day with President Hakainde Hichilema calling for resilience to overcome the challenges brought by COVID-19 by growing the economy to create more jobs.

The Zambian president said this year's theme, "Accelerating Social-Economic Transformation through Sustainable and Decent Job Creation amidst COVID-19" calls for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to create a conducive environment that will result in increased private sector investment.

He said there was need to tackle challenges facing not only employees but employers as well because the success of employers will have positive effects on employees through improved conditions of service.

"We must grow the economy by working together; investors, employers to create an environment that enables investment to thrive in order to employ more people," he said.

According to him, transforming the economy was vital to the government's desire because a growing economy will result in the creation of decent jobs and contribute to revenue collection.

He further urged local people to invest in various sectors to help grow the economy.

The government, he said, was committed to ensuring that employees get decent working conditions through various reforms being undertaken which include reviewing labor laws.

The government, he said, was working on reforming the pension system to ensure that money meant for pensioners was not abused and ensuring that workers access their pension funds before they retire.

Joseph Nkole, President of the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) called on the government to come up with strategies that will improve the welfare of workers in the country.

George Okutho, the International Labor Organization (ILO) Country Director said the impact of the COVID-19 on the labor in Zambia has been beyond expectations resulting in the loss of man-hours, diminished labor and business income and resulted in new challenges in occupational safety and fundamental rights at workplaces.

The pandemic, he said, has brought to the fore the importance of social protection for workers, adding that the United Nations family was committed to supporting Zambia in the implementation of the 8th National Development Plan as well as the implementation of the economic recovery program. Enditem

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