Civil servants to enjoy full labour rights

The Heral, Monday, August 03, 2009
Herald Reporter

GOVERNMENT is now reforming labour laws with a view to restoring civil servants full labour rights, including the right to join trade unions of their choice and to lawfully strike as was the situation before 2005.

The proposed harmonisation will, however, exclude the defence forces as they are an essential service provider which is the case the world over.

The amendment of certain sections of the Labour Relations Act are currently being looked into by the Attorney General’s Office and once complete, the amended Act embracing civil servants would be gazetted.

In a speech read on his behalf at the official opening of an International Labour Organisation workshop on labour law reforms and harmonisation in Harare last week, Minister of Public Service Eliphas Mukonoweshuro said the harmonisation was in line with the Short-Term Emergency Recovery Programme.

"In order to bring total harmonisation and to be in line with STERP, the Labour Act has to be initially amended giving civil servants the rights to join trade unions," said Minister Mukonoweshuro.

"Bearing in mind that the Public Service Commission agreed with the principles of harmonisation, the only problem was about how and where to house the agreed principles. However, it was agreed that the process be done under the Labour Act."

Also in a speech read on her behalf by the director of administration in the Ministry of Labour and Social Services Mr Paul Dzviti, Minister Paurina Mpariwa, confirmed the latest development to harmonise the Labour Act and Public Service Act in line with STERP.

"We have a deadline to have the Tripartite Negotiating Forum social contract signed by 31 July, 2009.

"We also have to review our labour laws and bring back public servants into the main labour mainstream," said Minister Mpariwa.

She said ILO was also assisting the TNF members to appreciate the social dialogue held in Kariba a fortnight ago.

Minister Mpariwa, however, said the amendment for harmonisation of the Labour Act and the Public Service Act would be done outside the STERP programme.

"We also need to amend two ministries’ Acts in areas that are weak and to align them with ILO standards," she said.

Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe vice president Mr Jack Murehwa, who represented the business sector, said business acknowledged the importance of peaceful social dialogue.

He said EMCOZ was committed to the successful implementation of agreed positions.

"The essential issue of the current harmonisation is the right of public servants to establish and join trade unions and enjoy trade unions rights, including the rights to lawful strikes and collective bargaining.

Once the workers’ constitutional rights were fully restored, Mr Murehwa expressed hope that the new-found freedom would result in a better motivated civil service.

He added that a motivated civil service would expedite the creation of an enabling environment for business so that more tax revenue could accrue and afford the Government more income for civil servants.

Other labour organisations like the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association and Apex Council applauded the move to recognise and uphold workers’ constitutional rights and to adhere to the dictates of the ILO labour standards.

Workers said the harmonisation of labour laws comes at a time when Zimbabwean workers can now make meaningful contribution to the current drafting of a new constitution.

ILO is playing the facilitatory role, including giving guidelines on international labour standards but the choice and adoption is solely for Zimbabweans.