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Minister Mupfumira

Bulawayo Bureau
Government has availed $5 million to be disbursed to workers whose employment contracts were terminated on three months’ notice, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira said yesterday.

In her Workers Day message, Minister Mupfumira said the $5 million was meant to provide start-up capital to the retrenchees, many of whom were yet to be paid their severance packages.

“The Workers Day comes at a time when the Government has released $5 million to Small and Medium Enterprises Company for the benefit of the employees whose employment was unfairly terminated on notice after the July 17, 2015 Supreme Court ruling,” said Minister Mupfumira.

She said in line with Zim-Asset and the 10-point-plan, the Government’s efforts were directed at creating an empowered society.

The minister said the Government was committed to working with social partners to address challenges facing workers and in line with that the Tripartite Negotiating Forum had been revived.

She said the Government had also reconstituted the Tripartite Labour Law Advisory Council to look at labour law clauses that need to be attended to.

Minister Mupfumira said comments on the Draft Tripartite Negotiating Forum Bill were received and are being factored into the Bill so that it can be presented to Cabinet and Parliament for approval.

The minister said the Government recognised the workers’ contributions to the growth of the economy hence measures being taken to protect workers. “I know we’re going through tough times but our workers continue to be key assets to Zimbabwe and this year the Government has resolved that we’re going to have our celebrations tomorrow (today) as Government so that we unite the workers for a common cause,” she said.

“We also have provincial celebrations in some parts of the country and preparations are going on. We had asked unions to coordinate the commemorations but we later realised that they are not interested in celebrating together. This is why the government is taking over for the benefit of the workers. Next year we’ll make sure that we have celebrations in every province.”