In a practical step toward making human rights more relatable in the workplace, the Human Rights Commission of Zambia (HRC-Z) recently spent time with employees of Northern Coffee Corporation Limited (NCCL), holding a series of interactive training sessions for both management and staff.
The sessions, which ran from 13th to 18th April 2026, took the Commission’s team beyond the boardroom, reaching workers at NCCL’s headquarters and across four estates in Kasama, Mbala, and Mungwi districts. The goal was to bring conversations about rights closer to the people they affect every day.
Rather than focusing only on theory, the training created space for honest discussions about real workplace experiences. Employees talked about issues that matter to them: clear contracts, safety on the job, fair pay, social protection, and having the right tools to do their work effectively. These conversations helped ground human rights in everyday realities.
At the same time, management teams explored what it means to run a business that respects human rights. Guided by principles developed by the United Nations, the discussions highlighted that respecting human rights is not just a legal obligation, but a responsibility that businesses carry in their day-to-day operations.
What stood out throughout the week was the spirit of openness. Staff and management engaged candidly, with a shared understanding that improving workplace conditions is an ongoing process. By the end of the sessions, NCCL reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening practices that support the well-being of its employees and expressed interest in making such trainings a regular feature.
To ensure the conversation continues beyond the training, the Commission shared informational materials and made it easier for employees to reach out in case of concerns, whether at work or in their communities.
Through initiatives like this, the Commission is helping to turn human rights from abstract ideas into practical tools that workers and businesses alike can use to build safer, fairer, and more respectful workplaces.
