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Zimbabwe: Workers to Join Rest of World in Commemorating May Day
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 Published by the government of Zimbabwe |
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The Herald (Harare)
1 May 2008
Posted to the web 1 May 2008
Harare
ZIMBABWEAN workers today join their colleagues throughout the world to commemorate Workers' Day at a time worker unions are demanding salary adjustments of up to 3 000 percent to keep pace with galloping inflation.
Worker representative bodies will hold separate May Day commemorations in the capital with the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions holding theirs at Gwanzura Stadium in Highfield while the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions will hold its own at Dzivaresekwa Stadium.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister, Cde Nicholas Goche last night called on National Employment Councils to regularly review wages and salaries to move in tandem with the rising cost of living and minimize the hardships being faced by workers and also avoid protracted negotiations.
The minister also assured the workers that Government would at all times endeavour to make sure that workplaces were monitored through inspections to minimize hazards that might injure or kill them.
In a statement, Cde Goche emphasised the need for a national preventative safety and health culture in which the right to safe and healthy working environment was respected at all levels.
Cde Goche urged Zimbabweans to remember the notable occupational accidents, which robbed had them of beloved ones during the course of the year, caused injuries and disablement and left many in abject poverty.
The annual commemorations also come at a time when various unions are resorting to monthly salary negotiations to mitigate their members against rising inflation.
The ZFTU will hold their celebrations under the theme "Affordable Housing and Empowerment of the Workers", while ZCTU's theme is "Workers Fight on, The Darkest Hour is Before Dawn".
In an interview yesterday, ZFTU secretary-general Mr Bernard Danda said this year's commemorations have come against the backdrop of hardships being experienced by workers as inflation continues to erode their incomes.
"We have deliberately chosen the theme because housing and empowerment play a critical role in the development of our workers," he said.
Mr Danda said different forms of entertainment had been lined up to entertain workers while gates to the venue would be opened at 6am.
"There will be music from Sulumani Chimbetu, Allan Chimbetu, Mbira DzeNharira and (Hosea) Chipanga, among others. There will also be a football match between Dynamos and Black Rhinos for the ZFTU Trophy," he said.
ZCTU president Mr Lovemore Matombo said they had also lined up lots of entertainment for the event. "We will be looking at issues like the price slashes and their effects on workers. The commemorations will also focus on the problem of inflation and its effects on workers' salaries and disposable incomes. It is important to note that 80 percent of workers are earning salaries below the poverty datum line," he said.
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ZFTU vice president Cde Joseph Chinotimba said the National Incomes and Pricing Commission should take into consideration workers' salaries when approving price rises.
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