The $5 Voice of the Labour Movement Established 88 19 Is u e No: 2 41 JAN - FEB 2 20 0 Regist er e dt e at h G wPO as a Ne p s aper Cricket: importance of Furore over domestic countries Zim Tours workers’ wages cannot be over emphasised PAGE 6 PAGE 16 MINIMUM WAGE NOW No TNF joy .… workers plot action National labour migration policy on the cards By Own Correspondent ollowing the recent approvals by the cabinet, social partners will Fsoon launch the National Labour Migration Policy which will clarify procedures on the handling of migrant issues. The policy was crafted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in collaboration with International Organisation for Migration and the tripartite partners - Ministry of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare; Employers' Confederation of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). “The aim of the policy is to promote good governance in labour migration; ensure effective regulation of labour migration; empower and protect labour migrants against abuses, malpractice and exploitation; promote the welfare of labour migrants' families; and ultimately, File photo: Workers demonstrating against a proposed wage freeze in the streets of Harare in 2016 maximize the benefits of labour migration for development,” reads the policy in part. BY STAFF REPORTER salaries to the interbank rate. Information minister Monica ZCTU's Michael Kandukutu who is As a result of this stalemate, workers are Mutsvangwa presenting the cabinet representing labour in the crafting of the he Tripartite Negotiating Forum plotting a national action to knock sense into decisions said; “Update on the Tripartite policy, told The Worker that the policy is (TNF) meetings have come and the minds of government and business. The Negotiating Forum (TNF) meetings held on now going through final touch ups. Tgone without anything tangible for ZCTU wants the minimum wage to be 5th and 7th February, 2020. Cabinet “The policy which is still in draft form is workers. implemented through the promulgation of a considered and approved the currently going through the final phases of With expectations high that the meetings Statutory Instrument under the country's recommendations from the Tripartite finalisation through stakeholder input by would address the issue of wage value and labour laws by government. Negotiating Forum (TNF) as presented by stakeholders representing the social probably come up with a position for salaries The ZCTU is now in the process of the Minister of Finance and Economic partners. It will soon be launched by that are indexed to the interbank rate, the consulting its constituency on the appropriate Development as Acting Minister of Public President Emmerson Mnangagwa once this opposite came out. While government and form of action. A number of labour forums Service, Labour and Social Welfare. phase has been completed,” he said. labour agreed on the introduction of the have been planned throughout the country. Regarding the matter on the financing of In a recent communique released by national minimum wage as an interim relief Public Service, Labour and Social minimum wage, Cabinet directed that social partners soon after convening a on the hard pressed workers as government Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima dialogue be pursued to ensure an urgent win- workshop on the policy, chief director in the work to stabilise the currency in the next six acknowledged that the salaries and wages win solution to the matter given the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and months, business remained adamant against issue as an urgent matter which he took to prevailing economic conditions,” she said. Social Welfare, Clifford Matorera speaking the issue preferring negotiations to be done at cabinet for guidance. However, cabinet The labour constituency which was on behalf of the Permanent Secretary the National Employment Council (NEC) directed that more consultations be made on hoping for a positive cabinet outcome on the level. Business is also against indexing To Page 5 the issue. To Page 5 +263772637608 Page 2 The Worker, JAN - FEB 2020 Pressure mounts for Zim govt to respect workers' rights BY STAFF REPORTER case postponed to February 24, 2020 at their last appearance on 4 International pressure is February. Court officials said the mounting for the Zimbabwe trial magistrate was out of town government to respect labour hence the trail could not continue. rights following condemnation “We are also concerned that by the International Trade Union Thomas Masvingwe who leads the Confederation (ITUC). National Energy Workers Union of ITUC launched a global Zimbabwe is still facing criminal solidarity campaign in support of th charges arising from the 2018 the ZCTU on the 4 of February demonstration. Another activist demanding that government stop who is the ZCTU secretary general, harassment of trade unions, John Chirenda remains dismissed withdraw criminal charges, amend by the Zimbabwe Revenue draconian laws. Authority,” she said. In a letter to President Emerson Masvingwe was arrested for Mnangagwa, ITUC's General leading a demonstration against the Secretary, Sharan Burrow Zimbabwe Electricity Supply condemned Mnangagwa's Authority over non implementation administration for suppressing of the sectors 2012 Collective workers' rights and demanded that Bargaining Agreement while the state withdraws criminal Chirenda was dismissed for alleged charges against trade unionists. insubordination. The ZCTU activists facing bigotry charges in Mutare “I am writing on behalf of the Burrow said the unions the ITUC representing 207 million world over were also worried about state repressive apparatus, the police · Training of judicial officers on in order to stop an announced workers in 163 countries including the economic decline in Zimbabwe and army in suppressing workers' Freedom of Association and demonstration clearly imposing Zimbabwe to strongly condemn the which have resulted in spiraling strikes, interference in trade union Liberties, human rights and of practical restrictions on workers' continued harassment and judicial cost of living triggered by affairs by government and lack of adequate resources to courts. rights. persecution for trade unionists in impractical economic policies. She judicial independence that had been · Strengthen Social Dialogue. In 2018 the military shot at the your country for carrying out their raised by the ZCTU. demanded the immediate · Provision of technical ZCTU offices in Harare in an legitimate trade union activities,” The commission found the amendment of the Criminal Law assistance by ILO. operation that killed 6 people in she said. Zimbabwe government guilty of Codification and Reform Act, In over a decade, after the the streets of Harare as it quashed Burrow questioned why the case violating workers' rights. It said “The Maintenance of Peace and Order recommendations, there remain demonstrators who were calling of 19 Zimbabwe Congress of Trade commission sees a clear pattern of Act, the Labour Act, the Public some grey areas and visible trends of on the Zimbabwe Electoral Unions (ZCTU) activists who were arrests, detentions, violence and Service Act and the Health Services regression. The government has not Commission to speedily arrested in Mutare in October 2018 torture by the security forces against Act among other statutes. shown any seriousness towards announce the 2018 Presidential for staging a demonstration against trade unionists that coincided with The ITUC successfully called abiding by the ILO Election results. government's unpopular ZCTU nationwide events, indicating for the global day of action on recommendations and sometimes Last year Zimbabwe was introduction of a 2 % tax on that there had been some centralised February 4, 2020 to lobby the acts in bad faith at the eleventh hour listed among the top ten labour electronic transactions had not direction to the security forces to take Harare administration to withdraw towards the annual ILO General violators by the ITUC. The listing been finalised over such a long such action”. all criminal charges against the Conference. came on the backdrop of a brutal period of time when other activists The Commission recommended: activists. In 2016 the ZCTU reported crackdown on ZCTU leaders for including ZCTU President Peter The Zimbabwe government has · Harmonisation of Labour Laws. calling for the January 2019 Mutasa and Secretary General, serious violations against the been found on the wrong side of · A stop to all anti-union government which included a police stayaway. Government reacted Japhet Moyo who were labour law by the international practices. by deploying the military instrumental in organising the crackdown on a ZCTU community. In 2009 the · Establishment of a Human demonstration in which workers resulting in more than 16 people demonstration, and were arrested International Labour Organisation Rights Commission. dying with thousands arrested on the same charges were acquitted were demanding the payment of dispatched a Commission of · Training of security forces on and injured during the military last year. their salaries. On 8 August 2015, Inquiry to Harare to investigate Freedom of Association and liberties crackdown. The Mutare activists have police besieged the ZCTU offices in systemic and systematic use of the and Human rights. appeared in court 11 times had their Harare, arresting trade union leaders No respite for 19 ZCTU activists facing bigotry charges ZCTU snubs POLAD invite BY STAFF REPORTER