Online Reporter
Judith Phiri [email protected]
ZIMBABWE is reviewing and modernising its Labour Act as part of wide-ranging reforms aimed at creating a contemporary labour framework that protects workers’ rights while promoting investment, enterprise development and sustainable employment.
The reforms seek to align the country’s labour laws with the Constitution, International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions and regional labour standards, while responding to the changing world of work.
Officially opening the 11th Annual Symposium for Chairpersons, Councillors and General Secretaries in Bulawayo on Wednesday, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister, Edgar Moyo, said Government remains committed to implementing labour reforms that balance the interests of workers and employers while strengthening the economy.
“The ongoing review and modernisation of the Labour Act seeks to establish a contemporary, balanced and inclusive legal framework that is fully aligned with the Constitution of Zimbabwe, ILO Conventions and regional labour standards,” he said.
“These reforms are designed to protect the rights of both workers and employers while strengthening labour market governance, enhancing productivity and creating an enabling environment for investment, enterprise development and sustainable employment.”
Minister Moyo said the reforms are being implemented through key policy initiatives that include strengthening social dialogue through the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF), advancing the National Employment Policy, implementing the National Strategy for the Formalisation of the Informal Economy, strengthening labour inspection and compliance systems, modernising labour administration through digital transformation and expanding social protection.
“These initiatives support the implementation of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and advance Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 by promoting inclusive governance, economic resilience and sustainable labour market development,” he said.
The Minister said Government had also made significant progress in strengthening social dialogue through the TNF, with negotiations on the long-awaited Social Contract now complete.
“Social partners within the Tripartite Negotiating Forum have successfully concluded negotiations on the Social Contract marking a significant milestone in collective efforts to foster social cohesion, economic stability and inclusive national development,” he said.
“This achievement is a testament to the spirit of constructive dialogue, mutual respect and shared responsibility that has characterised the engagement among Government, business and Labour. The agreement now awaits Cabinet adoption and approval.”
Minister Moyo said social dialogue remained central to industrial peace and sustainable economic development.
“Lasting progress can only be achieved through meaningful engagement, mutual respect and constructive partnership among Government, employers and workers,” he added.
Moyo further commended the Registration and Processing Division for strengthening labour market institutions saying progress had been made in gazetting Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), despite operational challenges.
“I am pleased to note that, despite prevailing challenges, the Division has successfully facilitated the gazetting of 35 percent of Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs). While we had anticipated a higher rate of gazetting, progress has been constrained by capacity and processing challenges at the Attorney General’s Office,” he said. “Nevertheless,
I remain confident that, through continued collaboration and sustained commitment, these challenges will be addressed, enabling us to accelerate the gazetting process and further strengthen our labour relations framework,” he said.
Minister Moyo said Government was also finalising a Labour Inspection Statutory Instrument to strengthen the legal framework governing labour inspections while workplace inspections continued under the Labour Inspection
Framework and Transformation (LIFT) Programme to improve compliance with labour laws, occupational standards and workplace safety.
He reiterated that Zimbabwe continues to strengthen labour market cooperation through bilateral agreements and Memoranda of Understanding with Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, Malawi, Rwanda and South Africa to promote orderly labour migration, skills development and better protection of workers.
“Our cooperation with Rwanda is a notable example of the benefits of structured labour mobility. Through this partnership, Zimbabwean professionals, particularly teachers, have accessed employment opportunities that allow them to contribute their expertise while gaining valuable international experience,” he said.
Moyo said such partnerships also facilitate skills transfer, professional development and knowledge exchange while strengthening labour administration and protecting Zimbabwean workers employed abroad.
“Government remains committed to leveraging regional and international cooperation as a driver of inclusive economic growth, decent work and national development by expanding employment opportunities, promoting skills development and strengthening Zimbabwe’s position within the regional and global labour market,” he said.
The two-day symposium, organised through a partnership between the National Employment Councils (NECs) and the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare under the theme: “Enhancing NECs’ Resilience and Adaptability in a Dynamic Labour Market Towards Vision 2030” provides a platform for stakeholders to strengthen labour administration, exchange experiences and identify practical solutions to improve the effectiveness of NECs in an evolving labour market. A delegation from the Namibia Labour Inspection Exchange Programme is also attending the event.
