WITH the country showing little signs of a swift economic recovery in the next six months due to the prevailing harsh economic environment which has forced some firms to downsize in the new year, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has predicted a slash in workers’ wages.
GAMMA MUDARIKIRI Own Correspondent
ZCTU secretary-general Japhet Moyo said the continued decline of industrial performance pointed to a very gloomy year for the ordinary workers already battling to put food on the table after the bulk went home for the festive season with half or no salaries.
Most firms failed to pay their workers bonuses for the festive season.
Moyo, noting resolutions by the industry associations representing employers including the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) and the Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe (Emcoz) to introduce performance-based remunerations, a move which has been backed by the government, said collective bargaining for a wage increase would be a huge challenge this year.
Moyo said the situation has been worsened by the 2014 budget which the ZCTU described as anti-workers.
“The year 2014 would probably be a terrible year for workers. If you read statements from CZI, Emcoz it appears this year collective bargaining would be a challenge especially when they are coming after a budget statement which said labour laws must be adjusted to allow remuneration based on productivity. Workers cannot determine productivity, but the employer,” he said.
Moyo said with most companies struggling, productivity-based remuneration would be unfair for the workers.
