adminTHE May Day, or Labour Day, is a public holiday in many countries worldwide. It is celebrated on May 1 in Zimbabwe, which is tomorrow, but the date varies across countries. The day is meant to celebrate and reflect on the most important asset in any productive nation worldwide – the worker. This is an important occasion, as it is remembered to celebrate the emancipation of the ordinary worker after years of a racially skewed system of master-servant relationship, a.k.a horse and rider or the athletic leopard and stupid goat relationship.
This day should see all workers celebrating the removal of such social injustice and the birth of industrial democracy at the workplace.
When it comes to Zimbabwe and soon after the attainment of political independence in 1980, the emancipation of the worker fell under the armpit of one umbrella trade union, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU).
This was a way of forging unity among workers. The rise of a rival umbrella body, the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) under the banner of democracy is the second best option in effectively protecting the interests of all workers.
As we celebrate this day, many workers having nothing to smile about as the day has lost relevance and its importance. There simply is no Workers’ Day to talk about except that it is just another day where workers get to rest during the week.
For starters, there are no vibrant workers’ unions or workers representative committees to talk about. The ones that exist are aligned to political parties and secretly serving the interests of the powerful members of society. There is no denying that the two main trade unions, ZCTU and ZFTU are aligned to two opposing parties. One really wonders why, if the interest of trade unions is to represent workers, the splits and why representatives align themselves to political parties? Who really is powerful – the representatives or the workers?
Why are workers being dragged into something that does not benefit them at all?
It is important that workers keep all workers bodies under microscopic scrutiny.
This year’s celebrations are held under the cloudy of company closures, failure by many employers to pay salaries and retrenchments – developments which are as depressing as they are frustrating.
This is so especially against the background that the Zimbabwean worker is highly schooled and professional, if given the opportunity, and naturally expects to be rewarded by being gainfully employed.
Unfortunately, this is not the case at the moment. This is a matter which as you would expect concerns the four parties – those at school, the workers, those who seek to provide employment and the trade unions.
This is the most unsatisfactory state of affairs which has visited the country for the last one and half decades since the imposition of sanctions by Britain and her Western allies.
Many workers cherish the old days when workers from different parts of the country would flock various venues in droves to celebrate their day. Back then being a worker was an enviable status. Not today. Back then salaries would sustain workers until the next payday. Not today, where the salary ‘evaporates’ before pay day.
Zimbabwe should, however, not tire to look for solutions to halt this explosive situation.
There is dire need on part of the Zimbabwean employer to be innovative and resort to import substitution where local materials are useable. This promotes employment not only where the materials are sourced, but also where the materials are deployed. That is one sure way of creating employment on both sides. On the part of Government, there is need to remove extreme inequality.
Necessary measures must be put in place where occupants of an environment engage in creative activity as offered by that particular environment. This is in fact the long term solution to massive unemployment as employment is realisable within the environment as opposed to seeking employment from without.
Online Reporter