The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) General Council at its special sitting on June 26, 2010 in Harare to reflect on issues of Labour Law reform, Transitional Justice and the Government proposed Medium Term Plan – 2010-2015; The meeting was held at the Quality International Hotel in Harare;
Noted that;
• In May 2006, the ZCTU 6th Congress resolved that the country’s Labour Laws should be reformed to protect workers,
• A draft proposal for Law Act amendments has been submitted to government,
Further noted, among other things, that;
• Workers have not been enjoying their fundamental rights, for example, the right to strike, and workers’ organizations have no freedom to conduct their activities,
• There is a multiplicity of laws that govern labour matters, for example, Public Services Act, Health Services Act, Labour Act, Public Order and Security Act
• There is no recognition of International Labour standards,
Observed that;
• Human and trade union rights violations have been occurring in post-independence Zimbabwe,
• Innocent Zimbabweans continue to die during election periods with perpetrators not being brought to book
Further observing that;
• An organ on National Healing exists,
• There is lack of political will, weak and corrupt justice system to deal with violations,
• Known perpetrators of violence are roaming scot free in the same communities where they would have terrorized people,
• The transition that Zimbabwe is going through is not an ideal transition – it is fragile and fraught with mistrust
And noted with concern that;
• Government has proposed a Medium Term Plan that will run from 2010-2015,
• This Medium Term Plan will run concurrently with the 3 year macro-economic policy and budget framework 2010-2012,
Further noting, among other things, that;
• These frameworks lack a sustainable human development approach,
• There is silence on the implementation of the National Employment Policy framework,
• There are no specific measures to deal with the informal economy
• The implementation of theses frameworks rely heavily on donor funds
• The success of these frameworks rely heavily on the implementation of the Global Political Agreement,
• No meaningful stakeholder consultations took place in the crafting of these outlines.
• Besides having a website in place, no other plans have been developed to lure exiled skills.
It then resolved, among other things, that;
• Efforts to amend the Labour Laws are stepped up through engagement with government and other stakeholders.
• ZCTU pushes for harmonization of Labour Laws and the recognition of International Labour Standards.
It further resolved that;
• The national leadership acknowledge the seriousness of human rights violations that have taken place since 1980,
• There is need for a truth and reconciliation kind of justice in Zimbabwe
• The truth and reconciliation process cannot be government led but must be led by neutral institutions or persons, and
• The ZCTU will take lead in campaigning for implementation of transitional justice processes.
It further determined that;
• Government must consult widely in order to come up with policies that put emphasis on sustainable human development, that is, prioritization of basic needs such as food security, healthcare, education, housing, transport, access to public utilities such as water and electricity, decent jobs paying a living wage.
• The informal sector must be receive socio-economic support through policy support, consistent and significant budgetary allocations,
• There is need to put more accent on local resource mobilization in terms of capital development programmes,
• There be political will to implement planned programmes,
• Government should first address remuneration for the existing skills before even considering courting exiled skills.
Having said the above, the General Council reiterated that;
• Zimbabwe’s socio-economic and political crisis is stemming from the issue of governance and that it could only have been resolved through the establishment of a Neutral Transitional Authority (NTA) with specific time reference towards elections.
• There be Constitutional Amendment 20 leading to Presidential elections
Signed Wellington Chibebe Date 29 June 2010
Secretary General (ZCTU)
[newsletter]
