Low key Workers Day in Harare

representing workers experiencing different fortunes that should be a wake-up call to their style of leadership.
Celebrations at Gwanzura Stadium, that were held under the banner of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, were low-key when a few people turned up while the other workers’ body, the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions apparently did not organise any activities to commemorate May Day celebrations in Harare.
Efforts to get a comment from the ZFTU leaders were fruitless, as their phones were not reachable.
In a speech read on her behalf by an official in the Ministry of Labour and Social Services, Minister Paurina Mpariwa said Government accords high occupational safety and health priorities to workers.
“In celebrating Workers Day we should always remember those workers who lost their lives due to occupational hazards, diseases and injuries at work.
“Government and its social partners accord high priority to occupational safety and heath and will ensure that social partners regularly engage each other for the purpose of developing and sustenance of a culture of accident prevention at the workplace,” she said.
Minister Mpariwa said the International Labour Organisation estimates that two million workers die each year from work related accidents and diseases and the figure is ever increasing.
“These occupational injuries are quite sad indeed as they remind us that somewhere in our industries life is unnecessarily lost due to positive work.
“Occupational Safety and Health is a human rights issue therefore no single worker deserves to be maimed or die due to work,” she said.
The minister said May Day was important as it fosters awareness among the workers, the recognition and appreciation of their role in the development of the country
ZCTU president Mr Lovemore Matombo said there was need for NSSA to refocus its operations to ensure that the ordinary workers and pensioners benefit from it.
“Recently the National Social Security Authority increased payouts from a measly US$20 to US$40 which is not even enough to cater for monthly rentals or put food on the table.
“This pains us as workers because our monthly contributions to NSSA are being invested, shopping complexes and houses are being built using our money yet we have nothing to show for it. We are yet to hear of any NSSA housing scheme that has benefited the ordinary workers.
“There is need for NSSA to refocus its operations to ensure that the ordinary workers and pensioners benefit from the scheme,’ he said.