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 Home Campaigns Human Rights in Zimbabwe News
Workers' and Union Rights12 April 2006Working people in Zimbabwe are not only struggling with price increases of basic commodities, a collapsing health system, shortages of food, drinking water and fuel, they are also confronted with authorities who trample under foot those fundamental laws meant to protect them and their families.
As a member of the ILO, Zimbabwe has ratified all the eight ILO Core Conventions. Therefore it is internationally obliged to respect the fundamental rights at work of every human being, for example the right to join unions, the right to bargain collectively and freedom of association. Technically the national law does recognise those rights, however the reality is different. In 2005 alone, several trade unionists were arrested, and many others dismissed from their jobs, including the President of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), Lovemore Matombo. In 2003 the Labour Relations Amendment Act (LRAA), which is referred to as 'draconian' by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, came into effect. While it pays lip service to the existence of trade unions, in general the law makes it extremely difficult for workers' to exercise their rights. Excessively complicated mechanisms for organising legal strikes mean that unions give up trying and instead resort to "illegal" stoppages or stay-aways. Fear within the government of strong and independent workers' representation resulted in the creation of splinter or fake unions by so called 'war veterans'. Their only purpose was to undermine and weaken the real trade unions in the ZCTU. These false unions do not bargain collectively or deal with workers' grievances or represent the interests of the workers. Far from it! They rather collaborate closely with the ruling ZANU PF party. In some cases these puppet unions have coerced workers, telling them they have to join their union if they want to keep their jobs. The ZCTU reports that some of its members have been assaulted for wearing ZCTU t-shirts. International solidarity efforts with the Zimbabwean workers continue to be obstructed. In 2004 and again in 2005 delegations of the powerful South African trade union federation, COSATU, were thrown out of the country by the government. The Secretary for Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Lance Museka, pointed out that the COSATU's program also involved meeting organisations critical of the government and the visit therefore was 'unacceptable'. For many years now, members of the independent trade union organisations have faced harassment and intimidation from government forces and it has been extremely difficult for them to carry out trade union activities. A common practice is the interference by armed police during ZCTU meetings, despite a High Court ruling in 2002 which determined that the ZCTU does not need permission from the police to hold membership meetings. As the most effective voice of protest against the disastrous policies of the Mugabe government, the ZCTU has seen their leaders and supporters arrested, jailed and tortured many times. Demonstrations have been brutally broken up and there has been a concerted attempt to replace the elected leadership with pro-government stooges. In 2003, for example, several activists were prosecuted for their participation in a demonstration. In 2005 mineworkers were fired for taking part in a strike against low wages. In 2006 armed police raided the offices of the ZCTU in an attempt to find a pretext to attack the labour movement. Many trade unionists fear for their lives. For example the General Secretary of the Teachers' Union, Raymond Majongwe, escaped an attempt on his life as an unidentified vehicle tailed and tried to collide with his car. Mr Majongwe has previously made international headlines for being arrested and tortured for his strike activity. The government also turns a blind eye to the worst form of exploitation: child labour. According to a UNICEF report, there are over 10,000 children working in the Zimbabwean agricultural sector alone. Due to low wages, farm workers cannot sustain their families, often earning just enough to buy a bar of soap and some cooking oil. Consequently their children are forced to supplement the family income - often as workers on the same farms. Too exhausted to perform properly in school or simply too poor to pay the expensive school fees, Zimbabwean children do not have the chance to achieve an education and as a result can only get low-paid jobs as adults. The relevant authorities are not only reluctant to intervene in this vicious circle, they even benefit from the situation, as many of these farms are now owned by senior government officials. Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA asks unions and workers of Australia to show solidarity and demand that the Zimbabwe government ceases its attacks on the trade union movement and civil society and fully restores the human rights of all its citizens.Contact Details Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA Ph: (02) 9264 9343 Fax: (02) 9261 1118 office@apheda.org.au Human Rights in Zimbabwe News
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