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The Herald: Shun economic sabotage: ZFTU

Shun economic sabotage: ZFTU
Herald Reporter

WORKERS should not be used by the country’s detractors to sabotage the economy, but should instead work to revive the economy, Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions president Mr Alfred Makwarimba said yesterday. Mr Makwarimba, who was giving a keynote address to mark Workers’ Day at Rufaro Stadium in Harare, said the ZFTU was committed to the advancement of the country’s interests through the Tripartite Negotiating Forum.

He, however, expressed concern over the failure by TNF partners to resolve the key issues affecting the country’s economy due to mudslinging and lack of seriousness.

"The lack of professionalism has, in the management of the whole process of the TNF, often brought about non-serious commitment and mistrust amongst the stakeholders in the social contract," he said.

He said the insincerity displayed by some parties to the TNF had brought many frustrations to well-intentioned participants who were keen to see the proper functioning of the forum.

He said this had been particularly detrimental to the worker populace whose hopes had been raised by the established of the forum.

"A Zimbabwean worker should not be used as a saboteur," said Mr Makwarimba.

He said this year’s May Day celebrations came at a time Zimbabwean workers were reeling under hardships arising from the illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the West.

He said his union would address the workers’ plight.

"As ZFTU, we will continue to look seriously into the wholesome, fundamental rights of workers in companies and all the industrial undertakings in line with the provisions of the Labour Relations Act.

"We continue to be dismayed about the issue of contract workers who are subjected to abject slavery. We have observed that despite us having a sound Labour Relations Act, this issue is never addressed and exhausted as most of the employers are now resorting to placing their employees on fixed-term contracts, citing the very same Act," Mr Makwarimba said.

He lashed out at small and medium enterprises over poor conditions of service for workers in that sector.

"While ZFTU acknowledges and appreciates indigenisation and the existence of SMEs, we note with concern the manner in which these undertakings are dealing in the areas of tax remittance, NSSA (National Social Security Authority) remittance and conditions of service of their employees, hence their contribution to national development and economic revival is questionable to our agenda of economic revival."

Mr Makwarimba said the ZFTU would continue to press for a minimum wage commensurate with the poverty datum line.

He said the non-taxable income threshold should be raised to $1,5 million while transport and housing allowances should tax-free.

Mr Makwarimba said his organisation noted the negative impact HIV and Aids had on workers.

"As ZFTU, we would like to urge the National Aids Council to now involve labour centres in some of the activities that relate to workers’ plight in this epidemic," he said.

ZFTU vice president Cde Joseph Chinotimba called for unity among labour unions when advancing workers’ interests.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions held its commemorations to mark Workers’ Day at Gwanzura Stadium in Highfield.

It urged the Government to come up with a statutory instrument to keep wages in line with skyrocketing prices of commodities.

Addressing workers, ZCTU president Mr Lovemore Matombo said the Government should ensure that the statutory instrument compels employers to peg the poverty datum line at $1,5 million.

"Prices should be frozen and wages should be increased to $1,5 million in line with the poverty datum line to counter-balance the ever-escalating prices," Mr Matombo said.

He said the economy as well as disposable incomes continued to slide with the PDL currently pegged at more than $1,5 million while the average wage in all sectors stood at $200 000 per month.

Mr Matombo said transport was costing workers about $400 000 monthly, making it difficult for them to survive and report for work.

"Workers are now subsidising their employers through finding other sources of income to raise money for bus fare to go to work," he said.

Mr Matombo said the current distortions between prices and salaries should be urgently addressed.

Commenting on the TNF, Mr Matombo said the forum could also be used in turning around the economy but there was mistrust and lack of commitment between the three social partners: Government, business and labour.

"A social contract needs honesty, trust and commitment, but this has been lacking and affecting the social dialogue process," he said.

Mr Matombo said there was urgent need to sign the Prices and Incomes Stabilisation Protocol and the Kadoma Declaration as critical documents that could help in addressing the country’s economic problems.

"If we sign the Prices and Incomes Stabilisation Protocol and the Kadoma Declaration, implement them in letter and spirit, that will become the basis for confidence building to bring Zimbabwe to occupy its competitive position in the region," Mr Matombo said.

He also called upon the Government to deal with those employers who were refusing to implement judgments by arbitrators ordering them to award their workers salary increases.

"We are calling upon the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to deal with the employers and stop them from doing whatever they want," he said.

The ZCTU held their celebrations under the theme "Workers’ Time to Fight".

The celebrations were also attended by officials from the Public Service Association, civic organisations (including Crisis Coalition and National Constitutional Assembly) and MDC legislators, including Mr Tendai Biti (Harare East), Mr Timothy Mubhawu (Mabvuku), Mr Gift Chimanikire (Mbare) and Mr Tapiwa Mashakada (Hatfield), among others.

Labels: ZFTU, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 3:25 AM