Labour Rights at Risk: Sectoral Analysis of Corporate Violations in Zambia and the Case for Legal Reform
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: The continued human rights violations and in particular, labour rights violations resulting from business activities in key economic sectors in Zambia such as mining and agriculture, have been traced to include poor, unsafe working conditions, forced labour, and low payments. The main objective of this article is to evaluate the sector analysis of labour rights violations resulting from business operations in Zambia. A qualitative systematic literature review design is used in this investigation. In addition to documentary evidence from published reports, sectoral case studies, and institutional records on labour rights and corporate conduct, the study is based on doctrinal legal analysis of Zambian case law, statutory instruments, and policy frameworks. In order to investigate trends of labor-related human rights breaches and enforcement gaps within Zambia's corporate regulatory environment, sources were methodically found, vetted, and assessed. This method makes it possible to gain a thorough, contextual understanding of how current legal and governance frameworks function in real-world situations and identify areas where structural flaws still exist. Among the most reported violations, unsafe working environment, low wages, and exploitations were identified. The ongoing labour rights violations were found to be a result of enforcement weaknesses, systemic gaps in both legal and institutional frameworks, which revealed that some if not most, businesses operating in Zambia enjoy immunity due to political interference. They also revealed that foreign investments appeared to be prioritized over employee welfare. These findings were most common on the mining, agriculture, and energy sectors. It can be established that for there to be an end of labour rights violations in Zambia, which are because of business entities, there is need to enhance enforcement mechanisms, improve grievance mechanisms, improve human rights education, and improve corporate accountability to safeguard the human rights of the average Zambian.
Authors: Mwewa Phiri, Romeo Yohane, Jason Mwanza
Institution: University of Zambia
Language: English
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7117588913
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