Government okays TNF secretariat

THE Government has authorised the establishment of the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) secretariat, whose role will be to conduct research, guide policy direction on labour issues, and resolve potential industrial conflicts.

The TNF is a platform that brings the Government, businesses, and workers together to discuss workplace-related issues. It has been used to negotiate civil servants’ salaries and resolve disputes between employers and employees.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing Zimbabwe-Namibia Bilateral Exchange meeting on labour issues, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Permanent Secretary, Mr Simon Masanga, said that while the TNF previously had no secretariat, the Government has now approved the employment of administrators to run the office.

“We have also been able to strengthen the TNF. The TNF secretariat was not fully functional, but we have just received authorisation from the Public Service Commission to employ staff,” he said.

“Maybe in the next two months, you will see more people joining the TNF, where research into issues affecting the Government, businesses, and workers will be conducted by fully employed staff,” said Mr Masanga.

He said the TNF has been instrumental in resolving industrial disputes, which is why Zimbabwe experiences very few industrial actions, stay-aways and strikes, as the platform provides an opportunity to convene and discuss issues.

Mr Masanga also noted that Zimbabwe is in the process of amending its laws to create a fair environment for both workers and employers.

“The Labour Act has just been amended, but there were two or three missing links within the Act, and we have gone back to the drawing board to address those issues,” he said.

“So, it will undergo further amendments. We also have an Occupational Health and Safety Bill, the first of its kind.

You will realise that the current occupational health and safety regulations in this country are skewed in favour of the private sector.

“There is no occupational health and safety legislation for the Government, and this has now been corrected,” said Mr Masanga.

He added that Zimbabwe is also in the process of developing a Productivity Bill, which will outline how the country addresses productivity issues.

“We want to amend the Public Service Bill so that it aligns with the Labour Bill. Immediately after that, we will review the Health Services Act to ensure that the three labour laws covering the health sector, the public service, and the private sector are based on the same principles,” said the permanent secretary.

“These are some of the areas where Namibia stands to benefit because legal reforms begin with tightening the law and then focusing on implementation,” he said.

Mr Masanga stressed that robust legislation protecting both employees and employers is crucial for a country’s socio-economic development.

He also emphasised the importance of engaging with countries such as Namibia on labour matters, as Namibia serves as a key job market for many Zimbabweans.

“You are aware that many Zimbabweans work in Namibia, and I am sure there are also quite a number of Namibians working here. This highlights the strong relationship between the two countries. We are here in Bulawayo, specifically to discuss dispute resolution,” said Mr Masanga.

“There are always tensions between employers and employees, but the Ministry of Labour can utilise alternative dispute resolution mechanisms instead of cases going to court.

“What can we share between the two countries to help resolve industrial disputes amicably? This will be part of our discussions between labour officers from both nations,” he said.