Statement to commemorate International Workers’ Day
01 May 2015
The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (the Forum) joins the rest of the world in commemorating International Workers’ Day. The day is set aside to celebrate “the social and economic achievements of the international labour movement and promotes social justice and internationally recognised human and labour rights”. Sadly this has not been the case for Zimbabwe’s labour force for almost two decades to date.
Unemployment levels continue to spiral out of control.According to independent economists, unemployment rateshave skyrocketed to over 95 percent. It is estimated thatover300 000 students are churned out of schools, colleges and universities every year to join millions already unemployed.Most Zimbabweans to date are denied the opportunity of securing decent jobs and an adequate standard of living due to the comatose economy caused by poor government policies. Economic hardships that emanate from such poor policies have resulted in massive retrenchments of workers and company closures. Most university graduates have no hope of ever securing formal employment and have found solace in the informal sector where they engage in undignified income generating ventures that lack viability, attract derision from well to do members of society and regulatory authorities.
Despite adopting the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act 2013, that has a progressive Bill of Rights which include labour rights, freedom of profession, trade, or occupation, these rights have remained more theoretical than practical as government pays scant regard to workers’ rights. A significant number of parastatals have been run to the ground.Incessant corruption in mainly state owned entities has virtually destroyed the resuscitation of parastatals such as Hwange Colliery and Newzim Steel, formerly ZISCO.
Poor economic policies that includes indigenization laws, interference with or mismanagement of the banking sector, property rights violations, incorporating Indigenisation laws, property appropriation, retention of ghost workers in government, national budgeting that does not re-capitalise Zimbabwe’s industry and alleged misuse of government resources for political expedience has destroyed industrilaisation and job creation. Poor foreign policies that focus on hostility towards the West and appeasement towards the East regardless of evident limited benefits of the “Look East Policy” have similarly resulted in phantom trade agreements between Zimbabwe and eastern countries that are devoid of any benefits to Zimbabwe.
Employers on the other hand seem to be taking advantage of the underperforming economy to deny workers their basic rights especially the right to collective bargaining.Government has weighed in to reinforce employers positions by unilaterally announcing wage freezes without consulting the tripartite parties. The wage freeze was announced by the Reserve Bank Governor during the presentation of the January 2015 monetary policy statement.
The Forum challenges government to facilitate the realization of a conducive environment for the recapitalization of industry, increased economic performance, improved provision of social services and genuine employment creation. The Forum calls workers to remain united in their call for the realization of workers’ rights now and into the future.