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Harare Bureau
WORKERS could soon have shorter periods to inform employers of planned strikes, get softer penalties for illegal job actions, and go on maternity leave without restrictions. Labour dispute settlements could also be streamlined and registered with the Labour Court, with collective job actions decriminalised. These proposals will be incorporated into the Labour Act if Cabinet and Parliament approve them in coming weeks.
Cabinet will also consider a question on whether or not some employers should be exempted from paying retrenchment packages for workers dismissed on notice, as business and labour representatives continue to bicker over the highly contentious matter.
In July 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that the common law position placing employees and employers at par was operational when deciding on a case in which two former Zuva Petroleum managers were challenging termination of their contracts on notice.
Many private and State-linked firms proceeded to dismiss thousands of employees on the strength of that judgment, prompting Government to step in with amendments to the Labour Act.
Talks between the three social partners brought up further amendments, culminating in the Tripartite Negotiating Forum technical committee meeting in Harare last Thursday agreeing on changes to 13 areas, among them, maternity leave, the Labour Court’s powers and collective bargaining rights.
The Act presently requires workers to give two weeks strike notice and makes illegal job actions a dismissable offence. It presently allows women only three maternity leave periods under a single employer.
A team of human resources experts is fine-tuning the draft principles, with Public Service, Labour and Social
derick.khumalo