THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has made a fresh call for employees to be paid in United States dollars until the government is able to manage its economic fundamentals saying this was the only way workers can manage their lives in these turbulent times.
Workers across the board have fallen victim to the economic meltdown, with those earning in local currency reeling in poverty as they witness the erosion of their disposable incomes.
At a time the employers have revealed that they are also suffering from the same economic battles, the life of the Zimbabwean employees now hangs in the balance.
ZCTU president Florence Taruvinga told the ongoing Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe 42nd annual congress in Victoria Falls that Zimbabwean workers have been resilient for a long time to the vagaries of the economy and cannot keep up anymore.
“When we said we want to be paid in US dollars, we were all shot down as unpatriotic. A stable currency is for our benefit both workers and business,” she said.
“You cannot plan with what is happening in this country, where prices are changing every minute as business is trying to hedge against the siding ZiG. I am not sure for how long the government will continue keeping the Zig at this ridiculous official rate.
“The ZCTU has not moved from its position that workers be paid in US dollars until we are able to manage our economic fundamentals. This is the only way workers can manage their lives in these turbulent times,” she said
Taruvinga said while workers have adapted to the whimsy policy pronunciations that have become the order of the day she said most often these policy pronunciations have been made without consulting other social partners.
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She questioned how long they were going to be resilient and hold on as they were now desperate.
Taruvinga said everyone was also desperate as prices of basic commodities have shot over the roof making it difficult for the worker to survive.
“Prices of basic commodities are beyond everyone except the few. Just go to any shop that accepts the ZiG, you will notice that the prices are three or four times higher,” she said.
“Workers of Zimbabwe face serious decent work deficits and gaps that range from poor quality and unproductive jobs, unsafe work and insecure income; rights which are denied, gender inequality; inadequate protection and so forth. They also face exclusive form of unemployment and underemployment.
“Progress towards decent work calls for action by mobilising principal actors around this agenda at national level. Integrated decent work defines the priorities and targets within national development frameworks. Promoting decent work is a shared responsibility; it incorporates the needs and perspective of the governments, employers’ and workers’ organisations.”
While she said labour was prepared to play its part in transforming the economy of this country, she reiterated that it can only do that through working closely together with government and business.
