Online Reporter
Zvamaida Murwira
Senior Reporter
TRADE unions yesterday roundly applauded the Government for taking the lead in promoting better working conditions as the nation commemorates International Workers Day.
Workers are expected to converge in different areas across the country today to commemorate International Workers’ Day, which is meant to reflect on and honour the achievements of the working class, advocate for fair wages and safe working conditions, and strengthen solidarity in the fight for social and economic justice.
The main celebrations for the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) will be held in Wedza, Mashonaland East Province, while the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) will converge at Dzivarasekwa Stadium in Harare.
In an interview, ZFTU secretary general Mr Kennias Shamuyarira said there will be other celebrations across the country, where they have deployed their national executive leadership to address workers.
Mr Shamuyarira said the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution responsible for Mashonaland East Province, Advocate Itai Ndudzo, will preside over the commemorations.
He said the theme of this year’s commemoration was, “Working Class Advocating for Shared Economic Prosperity and Inclusive Growth.” “The overarching goal resonates with Vision 2030 of attaining an upper-middle-income economy. When the economy develops or expands, workers must benefit and be included.
“They should get all their basic needs, like shelter and health, among others,” said Mr Shamuyarira. “We will continue to push for the improvement of workers’ conditions of service in the economic cluster and labour cluster of the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF).”
The TNF is a social dialogue platform bringing together Government, organised labour and organised business to negotiate key socio-economic policies. Its objective is to build consensus on labour laws, economic stability and social issues to foster sustainable development as envisaged by the International Labour Organisation.
In an interview yesterday, ZCTU secretary general Mr Tirivanhu Marimo said they will converge at Dzivarasekwa Stadium to commemorate May Day today.
He said the theme of their commemorations was, “Constitutionalism, Social Justice, Workers United for Decent Work and Economic Empowerment.”
“The commemorations are coming at a time when salaries for workers are low, and the situation has been exacerbated by events in the Middle East, which has seen the price of fuel rising. This has affected our workers because transport and other related costs have risen,” he said.
Mr Marimo said several activities, including entertainment and solidarity speeches, had been lined up for the day.
Zimbabwe has registered several milestones in the labour industry, the major one being an amendment to the Labour Act to improve workers’ welfare. Some of the achievements include fully paid maternity leave for female workers, notwithstanding the frequency with which they go on leave.
