Back to Index

Decent work eroded in Zimbabwe
UNI Global
October 08, 2008

http://www.uniglobalunion.org/uniafrican.nsf/0/196F5137923D0FF8C12574DC00730185?OpenDocument

The economic melt-down in Zimbabwe has robbed workers of decent work. Salaries have no value due to hyperinflation and most workers, including government employees, now report for work once a week as their wages can barely meet the cost of a bus fare.

Many people are still gripped with fear arising from torture, rape and imprisonment that were used as weapons of political repression.

Unemployment is over 80 per cent and the only economic activity thriving is that of black market money-changers.

This was the message delivered at the 9th UNI-Africa Executive Committee meeting in Cape Town, South Africa from 7 - 9 October. To mark this year's World Day of Decent Work which falls on 7th October, UNI-Africa held a solidarity action on Zimbabwe at which more than 50 trade union leaders from 20 African countries participated.

"Should there be no immediate solution to the current crisis millions of people will leave the country and many more will die of hunger," warned Keith Jacobs who led a UNI mission to Zimbabwe on October 1.

And Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) President Lovemore Matombo told the meeting that his country is facing a "sad situation that glorifies exhausted nationalism."

"When we got our freedom from colonial masters we were supposed to do better. In Zimbabwe we are now short of everything. Only God knows how we are surviving."

He warned African trade unions "never again to be an appendage of government. Unions have a role to play and must unpack a new thinking. When unions wake up the whole nation wakes up."

Over three million Zimbabweans have fled to South Africa where they have met xenophobic attacks. UNI Global Union General Secretary Philip Jennings said there is a "decent work deficit" in the world today. He described Matombo as a hero for the labour movement in Zimbabwe and Africa as a whole. And UNI-Africa Acting President Gabou Gueye said, "Those who put us in this situation should be made to pay the price. We have decided to support our comrades in Zimbabwe who are being subjected to xenophobia."

"Decent work is guaranteed by collective bargaining. We need proper salaries, global agreements with employers and jobs that guarantee the future of our sons," he said.

"Africa must replace the tragic square of war, poverty, disease and dictatorship with a magic square of peace, abundance and democracy," he said.

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP