Truckers demand an end to employment of foreign nationals as drivers

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Truck Drivers Association has written to the Zambian government demanding for an end to the employment of foreign national as truck drivers at the expense of local but experienced drivers.

In a letter dated March 26, 2023 signed by the Association President, Eugene Ndhlovu, the SADC Truck Drivers also want a joint taskforce comprising of the Zambia Police, Department of Immigration, the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA), Ministry of Labour and Social Security to be constituted.

In the letter, the Truck Drivers through Ndhlovu said the task force should immediate embark on a crackdown campaign on all illegal immigrants getting the jobs of truck drivers.

“As an association we have observed with concern the high numbers of foreign nationals being employed as truck drivers in the transport sub-sector while our highly experienced and competent local drivers remain unemployed,” he said.

Ndhlovu said some transporters are employing foreign truck drivers as means of cheap labour as well as to avoid statutory contributions such as the National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA), Workers Compensation among others.

He said this had raised a lot of dust in the sector and local drivers are now planning to protest if the current situation is left unchecked.

“The Association has consulted with the licensing agency RATSA as well as the Ministry of Labour and Social Security regarding the current situation and both institutions have made it clear that it is unlawful,” Ndhlovu said.

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