Call for civil servants to attend Workers Day

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
The Public Service Commission yesterday urged civil servants to attend Workers Day commemorations on Monday at Rufaro Stadium following a decision by Government to revive the celebrations. In a statement, PSC secretary Mr Charles Matorera said the commission welcomed the initiative to revive Workers Day celebrations. “As employer of Zimbabwe’s largest workforce, the PSC is urging all civil servants to heed the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare’s call to celebrate the day at Rufaro Stadium. In order to facilitate the smooth flow of this day’s celebrations, the PSC is availing free transport to and from Rufaro Stadium on Monday May 2 2016,” read the statement.

“PSC buses will ferry all workers wishing to attend the celebrations from the usual pick-up points at 0600 hours. The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare (Cde Prisca Mupfumira)has already outlined that Cabinet members will be there to listen to the workers’ grievances and to talk to the workers.

“Through the provision of free transport, the commission is encouraging its employees and all workers in general to come and commemorate 2016 Workers Day.”

Minister Mupfumira said there would be other celebrations throughout the country, which workers were urged to attend.

Workers Day has lost lustre over the years due to the politicisation of trade unionism in the country at the expense of workers’ welfare.

The country’s two largest workers representative bodies – the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions – have aligned themselves to the main political parties — Zanu-PF and MDC-T respectively – leaving most workers in limbo.

Minister Mupfumira indicated that Government wanted to re-establish links with workers by bringing them together to better appreciate their concerns.

She said genuine trade unions should be apolitical.

Government, said Minister Mupfumira, was in the process of finalising further labour reforms to improve working conditions.

Labour movements have welcomed Government’s decision to revive the commemorations.