Chronicle Editor
Flora Fadzai Sibanda/Rejoyce Sibanda, Chronicle Reporters
THE Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Professor Paul Mavima has said the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) should come up with effective solutions to the economic challenges facing the country.
The TNF is a dialogue platform that brings together Government, business and labour to negotiate key socio-economic matters.
Addressing delegates at the main TNF meeting yesterday, the Minister said the forum should look at ways to arrest the erosion of wages and salaries.
“The nation is expecting the TNF to proffer effective solutions to mitigate the socio-economic challenges currently being faced.
“The objectives of this meeting are therefore to consider proposals from our technical committee on erosion of wages and salaries, currency exchange and stabilisation and prices stabilisation. The meeting will also afford an opportunity for stakeholders to update the meeting on the ongoing initiatives on issues raised,” said Prof Mavima.
Among the delegates were presidents of Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions, Zimbabwe Confederation of Public Service Unions (ZCPSU) and Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ). The chairperson of the TNF technical committee, representatives of employers, representatives of workers and senior Government officials also attended.
Prof Mavima said the meeting was meant to give everyone an opportunity to look at the proposals that were made by the team in July as a way of dealing with the current challenges that the country is facing.
“It is critical that when we look at the proposal from our Technical Committee, we need to be guided by the desire to promote national cohesion and sustainable development and shun away from promoting sectoral interests of our different constituencies. Social dialogue by its nature calls for the subjugation of sectoral interests for the promotion of national good,” he said.
The TNF started working after being silent for 10 years when President Mnangagwa in 2019 launched the TNF Act to reignite and foster social dialogue, as the Second Republic advances without leaving anyone behind.
Prof Mavima said the Technical Committee that was convened in Mutare came up with different proposals that are promising to come up with a social contract that will benefit the country.
He said the proposals, if agreed upon, are going to be forwarded to the Parliament as the nation is expecting the TNF to proffer solutions to the socioeconomic challenges the country is facing. – @flora_sibanda/@ReeSibanda
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter