‘Improved worker welfare crucial for Vision 2030’

Peter Matika Bulawayo Bureau

The rights of workers must be upheld and decent working conditions enhanced to improve the welfare of employees across sectors as key indicators towards achieving the country’s vision of an upper middle-income economy by 2030, Senate president Mabel Chinomona said at the weekend.

She noted the significance of giving incentives to the labour force and promoting gender equality as part of the key targets under the Second Republic and challenged Parliamentarians to play their part in creating a supportive legislative framework.

Senator Chinomona, who was in Bulawayo at the weekend attending a three-day workshop for the Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and the Thematic Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, said there was a need to strike a delicate balance between the needs of workers and the demands of employers while promoting a fair and just working environment for all.

The workshop aimed to drive the national agenda towards achieving United Nations Sustainable Development goals by 2030.

“One of the key result areas of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare is effective oversight of the labour market, which is critical in achieving NDS1,” said Sen Chinomona.

“In all its forms, labour is essential to economic activity, a driving force behind innovation and the foundation of prosperity. In light of this, Section 65 of the Constitution guarantees every Zimbabwean the right to fair and equitable wages and safe and ethical labour practices and standards.”

The enactment of the Labour Act during the 9th Parliament in order to align the Act to the Constitution and the International Labour Organisation standards ratified by Zimbabwe, was significant as it established the legal foundation necessary to guarantee ethical labour practices.

To that end, Sen Chinomona said Parliament played a pivotal role in ensuring implementation of the provisions in the Labour Act guided by international best practices, in particular, the value of labour.

Thus, Parliamentarians must draw on their expertise and experience in crafting legislation that would not only protect workers’ rights but also foster a culture of respect and inclusivity in the workplace, she said.

Quoting Adam Smith, rightly known as the father of modern economics who captured the value of labour in the economy, she said labour was the first and most critical force in wealth creation across the world.

“True to Adam Smith’s wisdom, skilled human capital available reflects the economy’s total value.”

She said the value and vibrancy of the national economy were reflected by and anchored on the availability of appropriate human capital with requisite modern skills capable of creating value, growth and development for the country.

She urged close collaboration between the Portfolio Committee on Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and the Ministry of Skills Audit in creating a knowledge-driven economy for sustained growth guided by Vision 2030.