Fredrick Moyo
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has rapped the private sector over their failure to give workers Covid-19 allowances like government is doing despite expecting full productivity from the risk-prone workers.
Addressing workers at ZCTU Southern region board-room in Masvingo,
on January 24, 2022, ZCTU president Florence Mucha Taruvinga said the private sector should follow the government move to give workers Covid-19 allowances since the pandemic is affecting every worker.
“The private sector is neglecting its workers by not giving them Covid-19 allowances like what the government is doing. What is disturbing is that, the private sector just follows government moves in enforcing lockdown periods as well as lifting them when government does so, but they would not even bother to follow when it comes to giving workers Covid-19 allowances.
“The pandemic is affecting every worker and every worker should be given Covid-19 allowances to help them during this difficult time of the pandemic,” said Taruvinga.
She went on to accuse government and private sector employers of joining hands to oppress the ordinary worker as they are failing to meet the basic requirements of the worker.
“The government and private sector employers have joined hands in oppressing us as workers. They are failing to meet our basic needs as workers.
“What should we do when a worker’s salary is below ZW $ 71 000 that was drafted last year, when the same worker is failing to travel from one place to the other just because his/her salary is not sufficient?” said Taruvinga.
Taruvinga added that the Zimbabwean market is demanding United States dollars whereas a worker is getting paid in local currency that is not sufficient to sustain their needs.
She also said that the government is failing to address the grievances that the workers are facing and refusing to discuss their issues citing that there is Covid-19.
“Yes there is Covid-19, but by-elections are being held during the pandemic, so why is the government not listening to our grievances and allow us to discuss the issue.
“Calling for the rights of the worker is not to remove the president but to know what he or she would eat and what would his or her pension be like tomorrow. We will keep on talking about the issue until we are heard. As workers, we are continuing to fight for our rights so that we will be paid in US$,” said Taruvinga.
The government has of late been struggling to deal the rage of its workers who are demanding that their salaries be in United States dollars as the local currency continue to lose value on the parallel market.
Accompanying Taruvinga were vice presidents Valentine Chikosi, Nicholas Muchapiwa and Runesu Chipamaunga, Secretary general Japhet Moyo, his deputies Runesu Dzimiri and Kudakwashe Charumbira, Treasury general Douglas Chiradza as part of the new leadership ushered in last year.
