-call for dedicated NEC grow louder
ROSELINE MUTARE
HARARE-Retail and wholesale sector workers are facing poor salaries and working conditions, with this year’s Workers’ Day seen more as a commemoration than a celebration.
Phillip K. Mafundu, General Secretary of the Progressive Retail & Wholesale Workers Union of Zimbabwe (PRWWUZ) confirmed this in a press statement released today.
Mafundu highlighted issues such as low wages, contract casualisation, and poor working conditions as issues that affect the sector most hence the need to have a dedicated National Employment Council.
The fast moving consumer goods sector workers fall under the National Employment Council for the Commercial Sector and Mafundu argues that it is too broad and they need to branch off like what the security, banking and transport sectors.
“Workers are struggling, and this year’s May Day celebrations are not truly celebrations,” he stated, emphasizing the dire situation.
He castigated employers for neglecting workers’ welfare, particularly big supermarket chains for alleged “union busting and intimidation” of union members. Workers are reportedly being punished for exercising their right to unionize, denied loans and subjected to slave like short-term contracts.
He also raised concern about exchange rate disparities affecting workers’ purchasing power, saying they can no longer afford items they handle daily.
To address these issues, PRWWUZ has applied to the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare for a dedicated National Employment Council for the Retail and Wholesale Sector.
He urged workers to remain calm, assuring that the union is prepared to negotiate favourable Collective bargaining agreements.
