BY KUDAKWASHE TAGWIREYI/CATHERINE MUCHIRI LEGAL think-tank Veritas has revealed that the majority of youths are pessimistic about Workers Day because it no longer serves its purpose of addressing workers’ rights given Zimbabwe’s high unemployment rate.
In its latest Bill Watch report where it looks at issues pertaining to Workers Day, Veritas said the majority of the country’s young people took May 1 as any other day.
“A report by Good Governance Africa says Zimbabwe’s unemployment rate currently stands at more than 85% and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) states that less than 900 000 citizens are formally employed in Zimbabwe, with nearly three million in the informal sector.
“It is estimated that the average salary of a formal worker in Zimbabwe is pegged at approximately US$230, with teachers earning a meagre $28 000 which can be converted to just over US$179 using the interbank rate.
“To exacerbate the situation, in mid-April this year, the price of bread shot up to US$2 per loaf, the report stated.
“If you speak to the youth in Zimbabwe, they will most likely say May 1 is just another ordinary day. But not so long ago, trade unions nationwide would hold special events, with the main celebrations at the national stadium in the capital, where the masses would gather in solidarity,” writes Veritas.
The legal think-tank said many Zimbabweans no longer saw Workers’ Day as meaningful in terms of bringing attention to the rights of workers, but rather as an “off day” to attend to personal matters.
“According to section 55 of the Constitution, all Zimbabweans have a right to choose the type of work they want to be involved in and have freedom from forced labour. Labour rights are spelled out in section 65. The Labour Act protects workers from unfair practices,” asserts Veritas.
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Meanwhile, labour activists have raised concern over the snail’s pace adopted by government in finalising the Labour Amendment Bill 2021.
The proposed amendments seek to align the Labour Act with section 65 of the Constitution and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions ratified by Zimbabwe by expounding on the rights to fair and safe labour practices and standards.
They also seek to promote ease of doing business principles and deal with labour disputes and retrenchment processes.
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) president Florence Tavuringa said: “Our analysis notes with grave concern the serious failure to comply with ILO conventions 87 and 98. Of concern is the criminalisation of the right to strike and ministerial powers that interfere with trade unions and employers’ organisations’ rights despite parties having agreed to streamline such powers to comply with relevant conventions.”
“These conventions have been of great concern for decades yet most considerations have not been given effect in this draft. The Labour Court continue to be undermined by being denied the power to enforce its decisions.”
Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) president, Richard Gundane said: “The Constitution has given fundamental rights to workers, but nine years later there has been no traction or any movement in terms of amendments to the Labour Act, and we are saying by the end of the year there should be some action taking place.”
ZFTU secretary-general Kenias Shamuyarira said labour laws should address issues of freedom of expression of workers.
“There are certain powers of the ministers that should be reduced in the law as they are interfering with the interests of the trade unions and confederations.”
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