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TNF parties must show maturity

Stakeholders, including the government, labour and business, do not trust each other, making it almost impossible for them to agree on anything.

THE importance of trust in labour negotiations cannot be overstated. It is the fundamental aspect of any collective bargaining process.

However, in Zimbabwe, trust issues among stakeholders are hindering labour negotiations, resulting in unsuccessful collective bargaining outcomes, according to labour experts and trade unions, who spoke at the Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe 2024 Summit held in Masvingo last week. This is worrying. It must not be allowed to continue. The Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) was meant to provide a platform for consultation, cooperation, and negotiation among workers, employers, and the government. It was meant to encourage impartial negotiations. Unfortunately, it has failed workers.

Stakeholders, including the government, labour and business, do not trust each other, making it almost impossible for them to agree on anything. Last year, labour even threatened to walk out of the forum because of these differences. We also understand that even resolutions made through that platform are either not implemented or take time to be implemented, reducing the forum to just a talk show. This is also a major issue of concern because throughout its existence, TNF has been seen as nothing but a talk show. No one cares to address this important issue. There is a general feeling among other TNF principals that the government seems to be dictating things.

While stakeholders are busy undermining each other, workers continue to suffer. The longer it takes while stakeholders fight, the worse the situation for workers on the ground gets. This issue should be addressed as a matter of urgency because we are talking about people’s lives here. The lack of trust has led to a breakdown in communication, making it difficult to reach mutually beneficial agreements.

As a result, workers are not earning liveable wages, with the least paid government worker earning only US$360 per month, against a poverty datum line estimated to be over US$500.

Currency volatility has further exacerbated the situation, eroding the purchasing power of workers’ wages.

The trust issues affecting labour negotiations will have far-reaching consequences for workers. Without trust, workers will continue to struggle to earn liveable wages, leading to a decline in their standards of living. They will find it challenging to afford basic necessities like food, shelter, and healthcare.

To rebuild trust and improve labour negotiations, we would like to encourage all stakeholders involved in the TNF to put their differences aside and work together to establish a conducive and secure environment. This can be achieved by promoting open and honest communication, transparency, and a willingness to compromise.

The TNF and National Employment Councils must implement effective measures to address the issues affecting workers, employers, and the government. Social dialogue, which involves negotiations among labour, business, and government, is essential in promoting trust and cooperation among stakeholders. By working together, stakeholders can create a conducive and secure environment for labour negotiations.

By promoting open and honest communication, transparency, and a willingness to compromise, stakeholders can create a conducive and secure environment for labour negotiations.

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