Zimpapers Logo

Herald Reporter

THE Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) has proposed some tax relief measures, special emergency relief support for the informal sector and an unemployment benefit fund as part of a cocktail of steps to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a virtual meeting of principals of the three social partners — Government, business and labour, TNF resolved that Government should also provide protection to the most affected critical sectors like tourism and hospitality industry which is reeling under challenges such as cancelled bookings.

According to a report seen by The Herald signed by TNF chairperson and Labour Minister, Professor Paul Mavima, there was need for special emergency relief support for the informal sector most of which exhausted working capital during the lockdown period.

“Government should consider special emergency relief support for self-employed employees in the informal economy given the subsistence nature of their activities. Quite often, they are forced to make a choice between safety and survival,” reads the report which has since been presented to Government.

There was also a proposal for an unemployment fund that should be established as a long term measure.

“There is also need to engage critical sectors that have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic such as tourism and hospitality industry so as to develop tailor-made or sector specific responses and efficiency recovery strategies,” the report reads.

TNF members also proposed measures that ensured business viability such as tax relief during and post lockdown period.

Some of the taxes proposed for waiver included corporate tax, statutory contributions and tax rebates among others.

Prof Mavima told The Herald that they would continue to meet whenever it became necessary to fulfil their mandate.

Business representative, Dr Israel Murefu said TNF had continued to meet, but implored Government to consult social partners whenever it intended to make a decision with a bearing on labour.

“Some decisions or laws that arise appear to have been made unilaterally. That decision on mandatory testing was made outside TNF although it has economic, health and labour elements intertwined and by right TNF should have made an input,” said Dr Murefu.

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions secretary-general, Mr Japhet Moyo, said some of the recommendations made by TNF were already being implemented.

They included financial facilities for business among others.

“When we finally meet we hope to get some feedback on all the issues that we have agreed including the introduction of minimum wage that we are pushing as organised labour,” said Mr Moyo.