Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo
GOVERNMENT has called upon foreign investors to abide by the national labour laws, warning that failure to do so may result in the cancellation of operating licences.
The warning was made by the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Edgar Moyo, during an interview on the sidelines of his Ministry’s five-year strategic planning workshop being held at a Bulawayo hotel.
Minister Moyo said officials from his Ministry are constantly conducting impromptu inspection visits to ensure full compliance with the country’s laws.
“We are doing a lot in terms of our inspections and figures show that this year we have done far more inspections than previous years and that is in response to this heightened abuse of our workers. We want to ensure that as investors come into our country, they follow our laws,” said Minister Moyo.
He said officers from the Ministry will never hesitate to go and investigate once they receive incidents of worker abuse and an inter-ministerial team, led by his Ministry, has since been created.
“If anyone is found to be flouting our regulations, the law takes its course without fear or favour. As a Ministry, if we can cancel those licences, we will certainly do it. What we have been doing through Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency, as investors come in, there is a labour officer attached to ZIDA who educates them on labour laws and the dignity that our workers deserve,” said Minister Moyo.
He said investors needed to adapt to the national laws instead of just coming in for the natural resources.
“At the same time, our people should be truthful; we have had cases of abuse reported and when our teams do down, they find different situations, however, in most cases they have been validity to the allegations of abuse,” said Minister Moyo.
