Respect employee rights: Muzenda Deputy Minister Muzenda
Deputy Minister Muzenda

Deputy Minister Muzenda

Evelene Taadira in Mutare
GOVERNMENT has urged employers to respect the rights of workers to ensure sustainable economic growth.
A labour market environment in which labour rights are respected helps the economy to recover and also contributes to wealth creation for the benefit of all Zimbabweans, said Public Service , Labour and Social Welfare Deputy Minister Tongai Muzenda.
Cde Muzenda was addressing a high level dialogue on international labour standards  that brought together the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and the International Labour Organisation on Tuesday.

“Human rights are inclusive of those in the world of work, for workers are not machines. The fundamental rights and principles at work are essentially human rights issues.”

By the end of last month 49 deaths at work and 3 641 serious work-related injuries had already been recorded significantly due to failure by companies to protect their workers.

Only 6 percent of workplace accidents are caused by machines and their layout.
He said Cabinet would soon debate a set of principles for the harmonisation of labour laws in tandem with international best practices.
“Labour is a key factor in the production equation hence it is an important element of the economy and a critical component of the entire development process. Government, through the ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare is continuing with programmes aimed at improving the labour market in line with the decent work agenda,” he said.

The Deputy Minister said the decent work agenda included the creation of employment opportunities for both sexes, respect of human rights, social protection and meaningful social dialogue at the workplace.

He said Government was committed to strengthening the labour inspection system for the continued checking of compliance within organisations.

“We are determined to strengthen the labour inspections system as labour inspections help in checking compliance with provisions of the relevant statues governing the world of work. One such object of inspection is to ensure there is no infringement of workers’ rights,” he said.

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