LOCAS Portal User Guide
Your step-by-step guide to the Local Content Assessment System
Employment
The Employment module is where you report on your company's workforce each quarter (Form III). Click the Employment tile on your dashboard to access it.
What You Report
Local Employees
Zambian citizens employed across all roles and departments.
Expatriate Employees
Non-Zambian nationals working under valid work permits.
Female Employees
Gender diversity tracking across all staff levels.
Persons with Disabilities
Inclusion tracking for employees with disabilities.
Job Categories
For each category below, you enter workforce numbers broken down by Zambians vs Non-Zambians, plus Gender and Age Group:
| Category | Who It Covers |
|---|---|
| Management | Directors, GMs, Heads of Department, senior leadership |
| Technical / Professional | Engineers, geologists, accountants, legal, IT specialists |
| Skilled Operations | Machine operators, electricians, mechanics, technicians |
| Semi-Skilled | Drivers, plant attendants, process workers |
| Unskilled | Labourers, cleaners, general workers |
Breakdown Dimensions
| Dimension | Options |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male / Female |
| Age Group | Youth (<35) / Adult (35–54) / Senior (55+) |
| Nationality | Zambians (count) / Non-Zambians (count) |
Creating an Employment Return
You can submit employment data in two ways:
Manual Entry
Fill in the form one category at a time using the on-screen form.
Bulk Upload
Upload your employment data from an Excel or CSV template.
Manual Entry — Step by Step
Click "New Employment Return"
From the Employment page, click "New Employment Return". Select the reporting period (quarter and year).
Enter Workforce Numbers
For each job category, enter the number of Zambian and Non-Zambian employees, broken down by gender and age group.
Save as Draft or Submit
Click "Save" to save as draft and come back later, or "Submit for Review" to send for approval.
Bulk Upload
Download the Template
Click "Download Template" to get an Excel file with the correct column headers.
Fill In Your Data
Enter one row per category/gender/age-group combination. Required columns:
| Column | Format |
|---|---|
| Position / Category | Management, Technical, Skilled Operations, Semi-Skilled, or Unskilled |
| Gender | Male or Female |
| Age Group | Youth / Adult / Senior |
| Zambians | Number (count of local employees) |
| Non-Zambians | Number (count of expatriate employees) |
Upload
Select your completed file (.xlsx, .xlsm, or .csv) and click "Upload". The system validates every row and shows errors if any.
Flexible Headers
The system accepts common variations of column names. For example, "Position", "Position Level", and "Category" all work for the job category column.
Approval Workflow
Employment returns follow the maker-checker workflow:
| Status | Who | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Draft | Reporter | Data entered, still editable. Not yet submitted. |
| Submitted | Reporter | Sent for internal review. Read-only for the reporter. |
| Pending Approval | Admin / Compliance | Awaiting approval from someone other than the uploader. |
| Approved | Admin / Compliance | Accepted and submitted to the Ministry. Data is locked. |
| Revision Needed | Admin / Compliance | Returned to Draft with reviewer notes. Reporter can edit and resubmit. |
Editing and Exporting
- Edit: While in Draft status, click "Edit" to modify any field.
- Reset to Draft: If you submitted prematurely, the uploader can reset the record back to Draft (before approval).
- Export: Download your employment records as PDF or Excel for your own records.
Tip
Use your HR payroll data or headcount reports to fill in accurate numbers. The Ministry cross-checks these against immigration records for expatriates.
Deadline
Employment returns are due within 15 days after the end of each quarter. Late submissions are flagged and may result in an auto-generated penalty.