The Carpenters and Bricklayers Association of Zambia (CBAZ) has raised concerns with the increase in the number of cases of contractors failing to fulfil agreements with bricklayers and carpenters.
Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times, BCAZ Chairperson Prince Mukuyungwa revealed that some of the common cases include delayed and underpaid wages, unfair deductions and, generally, extortion.
As the construction sector booms, there is a huge demand for skills and human resources, especially in urban areas like Lusaka and the Copperbelt. “There are a few such cases that are reported, simply because the authorities rarely promote such things, which is a worrisome trend for the workers,” he said.
Mukuyungwa revealed that most cases remain underreported because most of the contractors are not registered, and it is quite daunting to track them.
“They just work on their own and are not associated with any organisation; they are just self-proclaimed, and it’s very difficult to handle such cases. They have very few valid papers; most who are in the field are not really qualified.”
The lack of formality by the contractors usually affects the sector largely, leading to shoddy work, and the biggest challenge is that despite the faulty projects, there is no viable legal ground to process such matters. He called on the government and allies to promote certification and create seamless strategies that would enable registration without much paperwork and unnecessary delays.
Article by Francine Chibuye
