Lawyers call for protection of workers’ rights
Thandeka Matebesi
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) have urged the government to protect workers’ rights by repealing regressive and outdated laws.
In a statement in commemoration of the International Workers Day, ZLHR expressed concern about the unending erosion of workers’ rights and fundamental freedoms.
“We note with particular concern the persecution and prosecution of teacher trade unionists, ordinary workers and individual citizens, which in most cases have failed to yield anything tangible in terms of conviction as they have been acquited after standing trial on flimsy charges.”
“Of great concern to ZLHR is the recent enactment of the Health Services Ammendment Act, which outlaws industrial action lasting more than three days by healthcare workers and requires them to provid written notice of 48 hours before job action begins”, reads the statement.
According to ZLHR, promulgation of such retrogressive legislation has the effect of stiffling the rights of the working people and is in contravention of the International Labour Organisation’s principles concerning the rights to strike which Zimbabwe ratified.
ZLHR reminded government of its obligation to adhere to principles of good governance which entail transparency, justice, acxountability and responsiveness.
“It is worrying that those eking out a living by a way of informal employment are always at the mercy of government, running battles continue to be experienced between informal sector traders and municipal police and the Zimbabwe republic police officers and this has at times led to arrests and prosecution of informal traders on flimsy charges”, said ZLHR.
ZLHR urged government to “immediately implement vigorous measures to arrest the escalating prices of commodities and services and tame the local currency instability in order to protect the purchasing power of workers families and dependents.”
