Zambia urges TAZARA workers to go back to work

LUSAKA, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government on Friday urged Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) workers to return to work as their grievances have been attended to.

On Tuesday, TAZARA workers on the Zambian side downed tools to press for payment of salaries for the two months of October and November, paralyzing operations on the Zambian side while on the Tanzanian side operations were operating normally.

But Minister of Labor and Social Security Joyce Simukoko said the workers should resume work as money for the two months' arrears has been released.

The Ministry of Finance has released 12 million Zambian Kwacha (about 1.2 million U.S. dollars) to clear the two months' arrears, she said.

"They should call off the strike because it's illegal and the government has responded to their grievances," she added when she presented a statement in parliament.

She further said the company was failing to settle salaries on time because of operational challenges, adding that the two governments have been helping the railway firm to pay the workers.

The TAZARA railway is jointly owned by the governments of Tanzania and Zambia on a 50-50 basis. Enditem