Workers at Champion Industries Limited are allegedly enduring harsh conditions of service, with reports surfacing that employees are poorly paid and given just 3 kwacha as lunch allowance.
Many of the workers are engaged in labor-intensive tasks such as washing beer bottles, prepackaging, and loading products, all within an environment they describe as unbearable and unsafe.
An unannounced visit by Ndola District Commissioner, Joseph Phiri, to the company revealed further disturbing details, allegations of sexual harassment have emerged, with an unnamed supervisor from India accused of inappropriate conduct towards female employees.
Responding to the revelations, a representative from Champion Industries Limited defended the company by shifting the blame to local authorities.
The representative claimed that Ndola Labour Officers were fully aware of the terms and conditions under which the employees worked and had given their approval.
By Lovemore Sondashi