Zimbabwe : Govt told to scrap anti-worker laws

HARARE —The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has given the Zimbabwean government a one-year period to reform all laws that infringe the rights of workers and comply with international labour standards.
Speaking to Journalists in Harare recently, the organisation’s worker rights chief Kari Tapiola said discussions to find best ways in which the implementations of the recommendation of the results of a commission of enquiry conducted last year in the country were still continuing with the government.
Among the recommendations, are that Zimbabwe reforms its labour law to ensure greater protection of worker’s rights and that Harare desists from using the notorious security laws to harass and intimidate union activists.

The recommendations also call on the Zimbabwean government to ensure its agents stop the use of torture against union leaders.

Labour permanent secretary Lancaster Museka said the government was committed to implementing the recommendations made by the ILO.
"We have agreed that there is need for an awareness campaign to the police ?to make them aware of the fact that POSA does not apply to trade unions and I am glad to say that the Inclusive government is going to review POSA," he said.
The police have been using POSA to disrupt any gathering including peaceful industrial action.

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) President Lovemore Matombo said he ?wanted the reforms to be made and implemented before the end of this year.

"Our expectations are very high, in fact we want Zimbabwe to implement these recommendations as soon as yesterday. As ZCTU, we take the intervention of the ILO as the opening of a new page in our engagement with the government. We have been calling for this engagement with the government since the year 2000," said Matombo.

Source from http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk