Zambia: The Labour Commissioner of Zambia, Givens Muntengwa, has suspended operations at Crown Casino in Lusaka’s Kamwala area for poor work conditions in breach of the Employment Code Act.
Muntengwa shares exclusively with Byta FM News that officers from the Labour Department visited the Chinese owned firm Monday evening, following tip-offs from concerned members of the public.
He says the inspection established that the Casino has one filthy toilet used by their 77 Zambian workers, who, after knocking off at 03:00 am, use a small space within the proximity of the lavatory to sleep on the floor before going home.
Muntengwa also notes that the Casino has a dirty dining space not fit for human use, adding that the owners of the facility have a modern kitchen, which they use while subjecting their employees to cook their meals along the corridors using charcoal.
He has also noted safety concerns at the facility, citing a particular container-shaped room outside the building in the car park accessed through the Casino, which has hanging air-conditioners on the wall and is completely sealed with no ventilation.
He questions how one would escape in case of a fire, condemning what he describes as slavery conditions, saying it leaves employees demotivated, hence affecting economic progress.
Muntengwa has described the conditions as unacceptable, stating that foreign nationals must not segregate their employees based on race, which is in breach of the Employment Code Act.
He has sent warning to employers who may be treating their workers to such conditions, adding that his office will begin patrols of various facilities to ensure the law is not broken wantonly.