Zimpapers Logo

Peter Matambanadzo in VICTORIA FALLS
Government and partners have agreed on a draft dialogue legislation that will provide a framework for the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF), Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare secretary, Mr Ngoni Masoka, has said.
The TNF is a platform for social dialogue bringing together Government, business and labour.

The forum was established in 1998 as a voluntary and unlegislated mechanism for engagement to discuss and negotiate socio-economic matters.

In an interview at the ongoing Sadc conference for labour ministers, officials and social partners, Mr Masoka said the draft legislation was ready and waiting for Cabinet approval.

“We met in Geneva and we met again in Zimbabwe with the social partners because we want to operationalise the principles. The legislation has been drafted and is ready. It has been endorsed by all three parties. We are now waiting for Cabinet approval,” Mr Masoka said.

Labour representative and Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions president, Mr George Nkiwane, confirmed the development.

“We have engaged the Minister of Labour and he confirmed that Cabinet is considering the draft,” he said, adding that he was, however, not aware if Cabinet had taken the draft to the Attorney General’s Office for consideration.

Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe executive director, Mr John Mufukare, representing business, confirmed that drafting of the law was at an advanced stage.

“The long awaited law once enacted will enforce outcomes of TNF,” he said.

The law is also part of the Government’s measures to address the plight of workers through the operation of the Employment Forum.

The forum also seeks to create conditions necessary for employment creation in the formal sector as well as the informal economy, targeting women and young people.

Zimbabwe is one of the countries which have pledged to promote employment in line with the International Labour Organisation — Decent Work Agenda for 2008.

Government has also started working on aligning labour laws in line with the new Constitution, mainly to strengthen workers’ fundamental right to free collective bargaining and freedom of association.