PHILLIMON MHLANGA
Government officials yesterday met labour and employers representatives in a crucial meeting to find solutions to the economic decline which has seen companies closing, Business Times can report.
Zimbabwe has been caught in a downward spiral in the past few years with growing discontent further fuelled by skyrocketing and destructive hyperinflation, power cuts, fuel and foreign currency shortages. Zimbabwe’s hyperinflation has caused a serious deterioration of the local currency and in turn, many companies have closed down or scaled down, throwing thousands onto the streets.
The meeting was attended ministers, among them Mthuli Ncube (Finance and Economic Development) and Monica Mutsvangwa (Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services) among others.
Ncube was the leader of government ministers. The meeting was held under the banner of Tripartite Negotiation Forum (TNF), a social contract among business, labour and government.
The outcome of the meeting will be tabled in Cabinet soon, according to Mutsvangwa.
Apart from an attempt to deal with the economic crisis, the meeting was also expected to deal with the plight of workers.
Agitation is growing among the general workforce for employers to review salaries upwards in view of the escalating cost of living.
Workers said the meeting was key as it was expected to map the way forward as prices of basic commodities and other services continued to rise while salaries and wages remained the same.
The meeting deliberated on key socio-economic issues affecting the country, she said.
The meeting was, however, adjourned to tomorrow to finalise on the issue of salaries and wages.
Before its enactment into law last year, the TNF was in existence since 1998 as a voluntary and unlegislated chamber in which socioeconomic matters were discussed and negotiated over by the social partners.
This week, Cabinet, received a progress report on the implementation of the TNF from the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Paul Mavima.
The technical Committee came up with resolutions that included the need to develop monetary and fiscal policies that target inflation reduction, enhance foreign currency mobilisation and management and the need to carry out institutional reforms that promote productivity.
It was also recommended that labour law and harmonisation reforms should be expedited.
It was also recommended that initiatives for the mitigation of erosion of salaries and wages should be developed.
Discussions were also around the proposed revamping of the country’s social services delivery system and the conclusion of a social contract.
