ZCTU predicts bleak future

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The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says workers face a bleak festive season this year due to the deteriorating economic situation in the country.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says workers face a bleak festive season this year due to the deteriorating economic situation in the country.

MTHANDAZO NYONI Own Correspondent

ZCTU president George Nkiwane told Southern Eye Business on the sidelines of the Institute of People Management of Zimbabwe 2015 labour briefing meeting in Bulawayo last Friday that a number of companies could also fail to re-open after the annual shut down.ZCTU

“We don’t even know whether we are going to get our salary increment next year or not,” he said.

“We are also afraid that many companies will not re-open after the festive season. Surely, we are having a bleak future.”

Nkiwane said the ZCTU was alarmed by the rate of company closures countrywide.

He said companies were not paying their workers on time and the government did not seem to have the capacity to rectify the situation.

“There is lack of implementation of agreed positions as well as political will to deal with those problems,” Nkiwane said.

“All along we have been talking about the Kadoma Declaration (of the Tripartite Negotiating Forum) but the government seems not to be understanding.”

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare deputy minister Tongai Muzenda told the briefing that increasing job losses were as a result of the economy performing below expectations.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare deputy minister Tongai Muzenda
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare deputy minister Tongai Muzenda

ZCTU recently revealed that 4 172 people lost their jobs between January and September this year.

Last year, the country recorded 9 617 job losses and 75 company closures, according to figures availed by the ZCTU.