Labour pours cold water on TNF Bill

socio-economic matters, was established in accordance with the International Labour Organisation.
But it has not achieved much, in part because of the TNF’s lack of legal framework, and divergent views of the stakeholders.
The TNF Bill, to be tabled in Parliament during the Fifth Session of the Seventh Parliament, seeks to provide the legal framework, and narrow the differences of the stakeholders.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe secretary -general Mr Takavafira Zhou said the move by Government to formalise the TNF was welcome, but doubted this would help much to advance the negotiations by the parties involved.
“Government has not been forthcoming to negotiate with workers ever since the TNF was formed in 2009.
“We hope Government and industry will be open to meaningful negotiations, we remain sceptical until the day we will hear of the discussion in Parliament,” he said.
He accused Government of being responsible for factionalism among workers’ unions, and for handpicking pliant union leaders for the negotiations.
“That is not conducive for industrial production and harmony,” Mr Zhou said.
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions president Mr Lovemore Matombo concurred with Mr Zhou that the TNF had not brought meaningful contribution to negotiations since its formation in 2009.
“It appears Government and the business sector are not prepared to negotiate.
“For years we have been pressurising the Minister of Labour to call for a TNF meeting but there has been no response,” said Mr Matombo.
Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe president John Mufukare said his organisation was not consulted before the TNF Bill was drafted.
“We were never consulted, this is new to me. I just hope it will be a good Bill of necessity to the national interests and the people it serves,” he said.  — New Ziana.