Online Reporter
Every economy rests on the shoulders of the worker, the men and women in overalls, work suits, gumboots, safety shoes, helmets, jackets, and ties.
Their skills, commitment and sweat oil economies. From dawn to dusk, dusk to dawn.
Today is their day. They meet at various venues for activities to commemorate the immense roles they play in advancing economies.
The day also allows them to examine their welfare and, as they often do, demand salaries and working conditions that guarantee them a meaningful living.
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) will stage events at 15 venues across the country, with the main event set for Dzivarasekwa Stadium in Harare.
The federation will mark the day under the theme “Constitutionalism, Social Justice: Workers United for Decent Work and Economic Empowerment.”
The Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions, in collaboration with the Public Service Commission and the Health Service Commission, will hold theirs at Girls High School in Harare under the theme “Honouring the Dignity of Labour – Defending Workers’ Rights, Fair Wages and Social Protection for All.”
We hold the national workforce in high regard because of their central role in driving the economy, and thus take Workers’ Day very seriously.
We are sure that workers and employers will meet and engage in fruitful interactions that sustainably advance the interests of the economy, employers and workers.
The employee has a right to a decent wage and a safe working environment.
The worker deserves greater economic empowerment and social protection as the themes we cite above indicate.
In his Workers’ Day message yesterday, President Mnangagwa was clear that his administration is committed to ensuring that the foregoing are upheld and practised.
He also detailed the work that his Government is doing to reposition the economy for better conditions for the worker. He talked about currency stability, single-digit inflation and efforts to promote greater formalisation of employment.
He spoke out strongly against unfair labour practices such as some employees who keep some of their workers on short-term contracts that do not offer job security, social protection and the dignity of work.
“As we journey towards Vision 2030, the principle of decent work stands at the core of our development trajectory,” he declared.
“Through the National Development Strategy 2, we are placing the Zimbabwean worker at the centre of economic transformation, social development and stronger institutions. The resilience, ingenuity and dynamism of our workforce is evident across all sectors of our economy.”
There remains a lot of work to do, given the country’s recent history of Western economic sanctions and the dire impact they wrought on the economy and the job market.
However, we are on the right path.
Sidumisile Mabena