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The Herald, 20 May 1981
IT is necessary to maintain a balance between wages and prices in Zimbabwe, the Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Richard Hove, said yesterday.

Opening a convention of the Institute of Personnel Management in Salisbury, the minister said it was useless to increase wages “today when tomorrow prices will rise” to a point of eliminating the advantages gained by the increase.

“Wages have to be seen in the context of prices and we hope that the Incomes and Prices Commission’s report will provide a solution to this problem,” he said.

The commission, which was appointed by the Government last year to look into the question of the conditions of service, wages and prices, has completed its work and the results are expected to be published early next month.

Mr Hove told the convention that the commission’s report would enable the Government to take decisive action on wages and conditions of service. He added: “The Government considers good industrial relations between workers and employers to be of great importance. It is necessary that a certain level of stability and harmony be achieved between employers and employees.”

This was why the Government was encouraging the formation of workers’ committees.

“Relationships between workers and employers are very important because the progress of our country is determined by the productivity of the workers who are provided with incentives.”

Mr Hove said the Government had encouraged workers to take a responsible attitude about their obligation to work.

The employers must on the other hand, “take the initiative to consult workers and establish a dialogue to ensure that everyone understands the problems companies may be facing”.

The Government had also encouraged all trade unions in Zimbabwe to come together so that they can have one voice and ensure that workers received fair wages and increase productivity.

“The Government recognises that our people are the most important resource of our country and we would like to see that this resource is fully utilised.” He urged the institute to keep pace with changes taking place in the country.

“Your organisation has to transform itself into a national organisation serving all Zimbabweans and reflecting aspirations of the people in the personnel management field.”

LESSONS FOR TODAY

There must be a harmonious working relationship between employers and employees, through management of various organisations interacting with workers’ committees.

While the unionisation of formal employment and formation of cooperatives were a priority during the First Republic, these principles have to be revisited considering that Zimbabwe’s economy is now largely informal. Who represents the informal employment sector on Labour Day?

As far back as 1981, the Government thought it prudent to maintain a balance between wages and prices in Zimbabwe, just like now in 2020. The Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) comprising Government, business and labour in its inaugural meeting, the process of aligning wages and prices dominated the deliberations.

The current economic challenges facing the economy require the Government to put safety nets that protect employees’ salaries from being eroded due to relentless hikes in prices of basic commodities, by stabilising the exchange rate.