ZCTU DEMANDS A MINIMUM WAGE, MOBILISES FOR ACTION

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) General Council, the highest decision making body in-between the Congress, met today 12 February 2020 to receive a report back on the recent Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) outcomes and processes.

The General Council noted that working people of Zimbabwe have suffered immensely as wages have failed to keep pace with the inflationary trends. The situation has worsened rendering it practically impossible for workers across all sectors to earn the current salaries and sustain their families or be able to go to work.

Although the General Council reaffirmed its position for Zimbabwe to use the South African Rand as an alternative, it however ratified labour’s negotiating team’s position of a minimum wage of ZWL$ 3 800.00 as proposed by the government as relief measure while the government stabilises the currency within six months. The minimum wage has to be implemented through the promulgation of a Statutory Instrument under the country’s labour laws. Failure of which workers of Zimbabwe would embark on an indefinite industrial action.

The ZCTU noted with disappointment that although business is against indexing salaries and wages to the US dollar and exchange rate, business itself is profiteering by indexing goods and services to this exchange rate.

The General Council noted with concern the high levels of corruptions in the country, the illicit financial outflows, and state capture by cartels and resolved to join other progressive organisations in fighting these scourges bleeding the country.

In the meantime, the ZCTU will embark on nationwide consultations in the form of Labour Forums and workers are encouraged to come in their numbers to air their views on the form of action to be taken if the demand is not met.

Japhet Moyo
SECRETARY GENERAL