07/03/2026
FEDERATION OF FREE TRADE UNIONS OF ZAMBIA (FFTUZ)
NATIONAL WOMEN’S COMMITTEE (FFTUZ-NWC)
PRESS RELEASE- FFTUZ/NWC/01/080326
8th March, 2026: Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ), National Women’s Committee joins the government of Zambia and the rest of the World in commemorating the International Women’s Day. The International Women’s Day was established to recognize women’s contribution in creating conditions favorable to women and recognizing their full and equal participation in social economic, and political achievements.
This year’s International Women’s Day is being celebrated under theme, “Rights. Justice. Action for all Women and Girls. And it is aimed at promoting the rights of women and girls around the world who are victims of inequality, discrimination and all kinds of victimization.
For the female workers in Zambia, this is not merely but a mandate, the history of our struggle for workers' rights is directly related with the struggle for the dignity of the woman worker and a girl child. Starting from the factory floors of our industrial hubs to the informal markets of our rural areas, a woman is the pillar of our economy. Yet, she remains extremely affected by the huge burden of productive, reproductive, and community work.
Promoting gender equality in the context of women’s rights and justice has proved to be one of the greatest global challenges of our generation. The matters of rights and injustice have continued to cause negative impacts on our environment, economic and social development. Women and girls are being recognized as being more vulnerable to infringements of their rights both in the community, schools and workplaces as observed by the high incidences of sexual harassments and victimizations in the workplaces.
We cannot discuss "Rights, Justice, and Action" without addressing the structural inequalities that keep women at the bottom of the economic, political and social structures. In Zambia, women constitute the majority of the "working poor. "FFTUZ National Women’s Committee is concerned that the dwindling of the economic activities due to the existing gender gap will further push many women and girls into poverty.
FFTUZ is aware of the existing policies and pieces of legislation and the recently ratified International Labour Organization Convention (190) aimed at supporting women and girls and also curbing the violence and harassment in the world of work. despite the promise of equality and well documented policies and legislations, progress towards the implementation of these legislations has been slow, fragile, and reversible. and to some extent, in every region of the world, girls and women are still more likely to be poor, illiterate, most vulnerable, underrepresented in leadership positions, legally constrained, politically marginalized, and endangered by violence and inequalities.
FFTUZ National Women’s Committee strongly advocates for the advancement and protection of girls’ and women’s rights and justice, recognizes that persistent inequalities poses “serious consequences for the well-being of all people.” As women in the Labour Movement, we believe that human development is about empowering women and girls to identify and pursue their own paths for a meaningful life, one that is anchored in expanding their own freedoms. Rights without justice is a dead agenda. Justice for women and girls in the Zambian labor market requires us to address the systemic barriers that prevent them from reaching leadership positions and thriving in safe environments.
FFTUZ National Women’s Committee asserts that achieving Gender equality by 2030 requires urgent action to disregard the root causes of discrimination that still limit women’s rights in private and public spheres and therefore, we wish to appeal to the government of President Mr. Hakainde Hichilema to continue supporting the operations of Gender Division of the cabinet office including the trade union, employer and community. As the women committee of the labour movement, we demand a transition from policy rhetoric to tangible Action. We ground our statement in the spirit of the Constitution of Zambia and the Employment Code Act No. 3 of 2019, which serves as our primary tool for workplace protection. This time is not just for mere talks but for sensitization and more Actions.
In conclusion, FFTUZ National Women’s Committee is committed to work with the government in ensuring that the agenda of gender promoting justice by fighting for the rights of our women and girls becomes one of the priority to our legislations and national policies. "Rights. Justice. Action" is a call for a new social contract. A contract where a woman's contribution to the economy is valued as highly as a man's, where her safety is guaranteed, and where her voice is heard in the highest echelons of power.
To the Government of the Republic of Zambia, the employers, and the civil society. The Trade Union movement stands ready to partner, but also ready to hold you accountable. We will not rest until the promises made in our statutes are reflected in the paychecks and the safety of every woman and girl in this nation.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
MARY SIYANDA MUSONDA (MRS)
FFTUZ NATIONAL WOMEN’S COMMITTEE
