The 50c Voice of the Labour Movement Established 1988 Issue No: 229 DEC 2017- JAN2017 R egistered at the GPO as a Newspaper Mugabe confirms Warriors government blunt at job cuts PAGE 7 AFCON 2017 PAGE 16 Health levy fund freeze exposes government’s poor planning - ZCTU BY STAFF REPORTER ILO mission he government has frozen effecting the five percent deductions on all Tairtime purchases because it has not put in place the policy and guidelines to ensure accountability and transparency. This was revealed by the acting Health and Child Care ministry permanent secretary, Robert Madyiradima, when he appeared before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health. The freeze comes at a time mobile operators were forced to reverse a data tariff increase following a public outcry. Government was set to rake substantial amounts towards the heads for Zim health levy fund from the tariff increase. The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) had set floor prices that set data bundles at a minimum of $0.02 per megabyte but was reversed after government suspended the mobile data tariff increases. “The health levy of 5 percent per every dollar of airtime targets purchase of medical commodities, and the Finance ministry has informed us that it is not yet taking off, as they are still working on the modalities of collection and policy guidelines. It will only take off when Treasury has worked out the policy. The Health ministry is ready to administer the fund, but Treasury is still crafting a policy instrument to look at issues of how to collect the money, and whether airtime users should share the costs with network providers and issues like that,” said Madyirandima. The National Health Insurance Scheme which was mooted in 2007 but was shelved ABOVE: Rwatipedza Chigwagwa (Left) former ZCTU Vice President and Wellington Chibebe (Right) former ZCTU Secretary General after fierce resistance from workers and were part of trade unionists who were brutalised in police custody in 2006 for demonstrating against the high cost of living Parliament was recently revived and cabinet approved it against labour and business and demanding higher incomes, lower taxes and provision of anti-retroviral medicines to fight HIV and Aids. protestations. The Zimbabwe Congress of trade Unions BY ADMORE MARAMBANYIKA over the years citing trade union violations government had been commended for doing said the freeze was a vindication to the labour has consolidated its preparations with a some positives emanating from the new position that the economy was not in a ABOUR is preparing for the arrival workshop to assess its preparedness. constitution which has a Bill of Rights and the position to sustain the scheme adding that of the much awaited high level ILO ZCTU Secretary General Japhet Moyo said establishment of the Zimbabwe Human workers were not ready for an additional Lmission which is set to assess the preparations were advanced and they have a Rights commission. However we have to indirect taxation. progress made in the implementation of the list of outstanding issues. He said they were indicate that these were just mere window “The government has always been putting 2009 International Labour Organisation now working towards consolidating them dressing provisions because in practice we are the cart before the horse rolling out (ILO) Commission of inquiry on trade with other issues that have been emerging not enjoying them. Our marches have been programmes without policy frameworks for union violations by the Zimbabwe over the years to build a strong case. blocked and when we approached the human the past 36 years. Stakeholders would not government. “We are working with the ITUC to prepare rights commission it directed us to the courts. support programmes which are forced on The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions ourselves for the commission. We have also In essence it (Human Rights Commission) them and the government should learn to (ZCTU) has been leading complaints against engaged our affiliates to submit to us all issues does not deal with labour violations because if that can strengthen our case. Previously the TO PAGE 3 government at the ILO General conference To page 2 2nd Floor, Gorlon House, 7 Jason Moyo Avenue, Harare 04-2928375/0712747808 Page 2 The Worker, DEC 2016-JAN 2017 Organising for a difference ZCTU poised for growth in 2017 in 2017 - Kandukutu BY STAFF REPORTER he Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions BY ADMORE MARAMBANYIKA elective conferences last year, the focus is (ZCTU) is poised for growth in numbers now on strengthening these structures Tand influence in 2017 if it sticks to its 017 is the year to revolutionise the through revamping their lower supporting congress resolutions despite gloom and doom trade union movement in line with structures in the districts and locals where projections by other stakeholders. 2global trends as well as in the ZCTU powerbase lies. These ZCTU Secretary General Japhet Moyo said fulfilment of last year's congress structures need to be activated to increase although the economic outlook was indicating to resolution to rebrand the ZCTU and the visibility and effectiveness of the more negatives, sticking and implementing the just consolidate its position as the most ZCTU so that it lures more members,” he ended congress resolutions would open up the representative labour body. said. ZCTU National Organiser, Michael labour body to entangle its influence beyond the Kandukutu said they will intensify employer employee relationship while boosting Kandukutu said this while promising to activities for young workers as they union density. rejuvenate participation by workers in remain a vulnerable group that requires trade union activities. constant motivation to ensure continuity Moyo said Zimbabwe being an agro-based Kandukutu said his department was of trade unions. economy could have capitalised on the good rains geared and had a clear plan to recruit more The department is also going to being received but there was no economic boost in workers into the ZCTU brand despite the continue with grassroots consultations sight as agricultural activities were dwindling falling number of workers. and labour forums to keep workers well- owing to lack of inputs adequate preparedness and “We are going to intensify membership informed of all developments. the challenges experienced in 2016 would persist. recruitment and servicing on the available “We have recently witnessed results Michael Kandukutu “The country has been faced with a number of workers in all sectors. This year we want to emanating from widespread consultations ZCTU National Organiser challenges which are far from being over. The leave a mark by spurring participation of from the round of consultative meetings liquidity crunch is far from over and the country is all workers. ZCTU is going to swell the which the newly elected ZCTU leadership selected sectors last year and the results unlikely to attract serious investors if the situation ranks by encouraging members to embarked on. The consultations narrowed were very encouraging as thousands of persists. The national policies and country risk participate in political organisations of members were recruited and we are the social distance between the leadership factors have also not improved and are likely to get their choices to influence our collective structures and general membership and planning to diverse to other sectors in worker positions,” said Kandukutu. 2017. The enthusiasm exuded by affiliate worse as the nation strides towards the 2018 renewed vigour for participation,” he said. election. This whole period is likely to see He said the department will have a Kandukutu said with the team spirit organisers was very encouraging and what bottom-up approach focusing more on the from affiliate organisers and structures the is now critical is to service and retain those politicians focusing on power retention instead of grassroots structure where the ZCTU ZCTU was set for growth as frameworks members while recruiting more,” he said. development and potential investors are likely to powerbase lies. to tap into unorganised sectors are already He said preparations for National adopt a wait and see attitude until the elections are “After successfully holding the Young in place. commemorations and campaigns for 2017 over because Zimbabwe has a history of violence Workers, Women and the ZCTU main “We embarked on recruitment blitz in were already underway. and policy inconsistencies in election periods and that would have an adverse effect on the labour movement,” he said. He said the ZCTU was not going to be deterred ZCTU braces for high level ILO mission by such looming circumstances and would instead seek to consolidate its position as the most From Page 1 Government through the ministry of disappointment over government's failure influential and representative labour body. labour also issued certificates of to provide statistical information on issues we have to approach the courts before “We are looking at re-branding so that the ZCTU embarking on our given rights we are still Registration to two unions, the National of trade union discrimination as is required suppressed,” he said. Union of the Metal and Allied Industries of by the Committee of Experts and it becomes appealing to workers across the political The ZCTU had complained about Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Footwear, recommended that government should hold divide while maintaining our independence and government's systemic and systematic use Tanners and Allied Workers Union meaningful consultations with social focussing our energies on the substantive issues of the state repressive apparatus, the police (ZIFTAWU) a few days before the Geneva partners in order to amend the Labour Act which are worker oriented. We are not confining our and intelligence in suppressing workers' conference after immense pressure from and the Public Order and Security Act efforts to workplace issues, instead we are urging strikes, interference in trade union affairs by labour.