Employers and workers’ representatives have pledged to work with the Government to find solutions to the country’s socio-economic challenges through constructive dialogue.
The commitment was made at the Tripartite Negotiation Forum (TNF) workshop that was held in Victoria Falls on Friday.
The TNF brings together business, labour and the Government. The TNF partners who convened the meeting were the Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ), the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
Addressing delegates, the ZCTU president, Florence Taruvinga bemoaned the incessant rise in the price of goods and services in both US dollars and RTGS dollars. Taruvinga said:
The prices of goods and services continue to rise. Even prices that have been pegged in US dollars are also rising. We need to find out what is really happening in our country.
The participation of the social partners in public policy formulation, implementation and monitoring processes can fundamentally contribute to ensuring the ownership, transparency, and governance of development strategies and policies in Zimbabwe.
… We also note that social dialogue, as a mechanism for participation and consensus building in the world of work, is a key element of decent work and must play a central role in the fight against poverty.
EMCOZ vice president Jabulani Dube explained the importance of the TNF in advancing the interests of business and workers. He said:
Successful social dialogue structures and processes have the potential to resolve important socio-economic issues and processes, encourage good governance, advance social and industrial peace and stability and boost economic programmes.
Fair terms of employment, decent working conditions, safety and health at work and development for the benefit of all cannot be achieved without the involvement of workers, employers, and government.