ZCTU demands payment of Private Sector salaries
By Trevor Makonyonga
The mother body of local trade unions has blasted the government for failing to take responsibility of private-sector workers who might be denied their remunerations.
This comes after Labour minister, Paul Mavhima said the government was not obliged to make sure private employees pay their workers during the ongoing COVID 19 lockdown.
In a statement, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) President Japhet Moyo said the government must step in and pay worker’s salaries in the event that private businesses fail to do so.
“The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) is disturbed by reports in the media attributed to the Minister of Public Service Labour and Social Welfare Professor Paul Mavima that government will not force private-sector employers to pay their workers’ salaries during the COVID-19 national lockdown.
“The ZCTU notes that the Minister’s sentiments are likely to affect most employees’ livelihoods and worsen their plight. Instead of encouraging employers to pay, the Minister is giving them leeway not to pay. Most companies will take the Minister’s words and dodge their responsibilities. We have already received cases of employers who are refusing to pay their workers during the lockdown as well as others who are forcing workers to take their leave days.”
He went onto add that top government officials who own business might use this opportunity to dodge paying their employees salaries.
“COVID-19 is an international and national calamity and everyone must play his or her part. If employers are not able to pay workers then the government must compensate workers. This is what other governments are doing. The government should not shy away from taking leadership and its responsibility. It should play a regulatory role in industrial relations issues both in the public and private sector. The only inference we draw from such statements is that most government top officials, including Ministers, are shareholders in most businesses and therefore stand to benefit when employers are not encouraged to pay wages during the lockdown.”
With a week left to the end of the lockdown, cases of COVID 19 are increasing.
Cabinet will soon meet and decide whether the lockdown should be extended or lifted.
To date, 23 people have tested positive of coronavirus while three have died.
