CZI to host minister at indaba

Business Reporter
THE Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries, Midlands Chamber will next Thursday host the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Prisca Mupfumira at a conference to assess progress on the amendments to the Labour Act, among other issues.

“In view of the current developments concerning Labour Law Reforms including the setting up of a National Productivity Institute, CZI Midlands Chamber will be hosting the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Prisca Mupfumira in Gweru on Thursday, May 19, 2016,” the CZI Midlands Chamber president Matthias Ruziwa said Friday.

Mr Ruziwa said the conference will also interrogate the role of Labour Law Advisory Council, update on the establishment of the Zimbabwe National Productivity Institute and the proposed National Health Scheme.

Government is speeding up the process of setting up the Zimbabwe National Productivity Institute which will develop scientific methodologies to determine productivity-based collective bargaining.

The Labour Amendment Act passed last year streamlines the issues of competitiveness and productivity into the wage determination processes.

The provisions on collective bargaining now compel parties engaged in wage negotiations either at the Works Council (company) or at the Employment Council (industry) level to take into account the foremost levels of productivity in setting remuneration levels.

The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare is working overtime to expedite the establishment of the ZNPI which will when fully operational will promote productivity related rewards in industry as well as its measurement.

This is part of Government’s efforts to ensure that Zimbabwe improves its labour market efficiency.

According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report 2014 -2015, Zimbabwe’s overall labour market efficiency was ranked 137 out of 144 countries while the country ranked in the bottom three in respect of hiring and firing practices, flexibility of wage determination, and pay and productivity indicators.

The conference is expected to draw chief executive officers, human resources managers, line managers, lawyers and the academia.