ZIMBABWE last Friday joined the world in celebrating the International Day of Decent Work at a time when the majority of workers are not experiencing any decent work due to pathetic working conditions characterised by poor remuneration and job insecurity.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) defines decent work as work that is productive and delivers a fair income, security and social protection. The International Day of Decent Work was adopted in 2006 and came into effect in 2008 at the instigation of the International Trade Union Confederation.
But, according to the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions — the national federation of trade unions — the southern African nation is still lagging behind with regards to achieving decent work as defined by ILO as massive work deficits in various workplaces continue to exist.
The trade union said there were very few job opportunities at the moment, while breaches of workers’ rights both in law and practice are on the high.
It is, therefore, folly for the government to celebrate something that is non-existent in our own backyard.
The supposedly new dispensation led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa should address the failing economy as a matter of urgency before joining other nations in commemorating decent work. Without addressing economic issues, Zimbabwean workers should forget about celebrating the International Day of Decent Work.
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There is a need for the public and private sectors to improve working conditions by awarding decent wages. The government should also stop denying workers the right to protest for better working conditions.
The practice, especially by the private sector, that workers sometimes go for months on end without being paid should stop forthwith.
Surely, how does one expect workers to survive under current economic conditions characterised by runaway inflation and currency volatility?
The private sector should also take cognisance of market dynamics when paying workers. As we write 90% of Zimbabwe’s economy has dollarised. Surprisingly, employers do not want to remunerate their workers in hard currency despite the fact that most of them, if not all, are charging their goods and services in that currency. What stinking hypocrisy!
It is high time the government and private sector respected the workers because every worker deserves a fair income, security and social protection. These are basics. Without them, there is no employment but slavery.
It is meaningless for both the government and the private sector to celebrate the International Day of Decent Work when most workers are grossly overtaxed and underpaid.
Until there is significant improvement in the payment of workers and the conditions they work under, it should be a day of mourning for Zimbabwe’s workers.