Thousands of workers at Zambia Sugar plc have gone on strike demanding a 35% pay rise. Management at the company declared the strike, which started on June 12, 2012, illegal. The company, which employs some 2,000 permanent staffers and around 4,000 seasonal workers, ordered all to immediately report for work or risk losing their jobs. Any employee who does not report for work as of the next shift cycle will. be deemed to have breached their employment contract and accordingly will have dismissed themselves from employment.