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In separate interviews this week, representatives of unions said it was not clear how many people were jobless because employers were no longer submitting statistics whenever they close shop or retrench.
“Retrenchment statistics for the period January to September this year show that 3 060 people were retrenched compared to 3 605 last year. There was slightly less retrenchment compared to last year but no comfort can be derived from that because the labour pool is becoming smaller.
“The challenge is that we do not know how many people are formally employed. A vast majority of people are now in informal employment, which makes it difficult now to have actual figures,” said Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe (Emcoz) executive director Mr John Mufukare.
More than 20 000 people are estimated to be jobless because of relocation or closure of industries in Bulawayo, according to the Minister of Industry and Commerce Professor Welshman Ncube.
Mr Mufukare said it was worrying that the Government expects Gross Domestic Product to increase by five percent yet the situation on the ground was different with the majority of firms closing.
“The statistics about retrenchment should be inclusive of every worker that has been dismissed from work but only 3 060 cases have been notified to the Ministry of Labour. We are not challenging Minister Ncube’s figures because our data collection has not been updated and needs to be improved,” he said.
The Emcoz boss said companies were not submitting figures because they knew that if they closed properly, workers would claim their dues since most of them are owed salaries and allowances dating back to 2009.
“The outlook period is very sad and gloomy for both the employer and worker and we cannot expect a quick fix in 2013 because businesses are struggling,” said Mr Mufukare.
The unions said the situation was a social disaster for citizens as it was leading to stress related chronic diseases and disintegration of families.
Mr Pardon Mangena, the southern regional head of the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) said the situation was bad for workers, as many of them have not been paid.
“This year has been bad particularly for employees in Bulawayo where many companies are in liquidation leading to high unemployment. People are desperate for money and the festive season will be a non event for them,” he said.
Mr Percy Mcijo, the western regional officer for the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, said lack of employment had caused frustration.
“This has resulted in frustration even to those who are still working because they are not being paid. Hundreds have been threatened to be thrown out of their rented houses and they can no longer afford to buy food or pay school fees for their children.
“Workers are in a big dilemma and there are cases of some succumbing to stress or hypertension related diseases. This has also resulted in social problems like divorce in families,” said Mr Mcijo.
He said the majority of retrenched workers had congested the informal sector.
“We cannot give accurate figures of people who are unemployed in the country because companies keep closing while others do not release figures. The informal sector is now congested as people cannot go to their rural homes because there is nothing to do there owing to poor rains,” said Mr Mcijo.
The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe regional manager, Mr Comfort Muchekeza, said people have lost their consumer rights because they could no longer access food and shelter owing to unemployment.
“We have been reading in the Press about companies relocating or closing and this has caused a bad scenario. First it used to be industries and now retail shops are closing as well. People are just given short notice and that means we no longer have anything like consumer rights.
“This is time for everyone to have food and gifts but our people can no longer afford that because they are not on the payroll. We expected the Save Bulawayo Campaign to bring positive results but nothing has happened as retrenchment has continued,” he said.
Some companies have also sent workers on forced unpaid leave.
Last month the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) revealed that the country’s unemployment rate was at 10,7 percent while some organisations have said the rate stands at 70 percent.
Online Reporter