President Mnangagwa has implored employers to review
salaries and conditions of service for their workers to improve their living
standards.
Addressing the nation on the eve of 2019 Workers’ Day
celebrations last night, the President paid tribute to workers for their role
in building the national economy and sustaining families.
Government, he said, was aware of the plight of the workers
and challenged employers to look into the issue of remuneration.
“My Government is fully aware of the challenges facing the
labour sector,” he said.
“As we continue on the path of development and progress, I
challenge employers to use this day as an opportunity to reflect and evaluate
the welfare, remuneration, conditions of service, safety and state of workers,
among other issues.”
President Mnangagwa saluted workers for their contribution
in building the nation, saying they were an essential component in Government’s
drive towards the attainment of Vision 2030.
“You are a sector that we are giving due attention in the
Second Republic,” he said. “We know that with you as partners, we will realise
the modernisation, industrialisation, growth and prosperity of our economy.”
President Mnangagwa reiterated Government’s commitment to
restore the purchasing power of workers.
In addition, the President said his administration was
committed to restore the decency and dignity of all workers.
He expressed disquiet over the counter-productive
machinations by irresponsible and unpatriotic members of industry and
businesses who continue to frustrate and undermine the economic, modernisation
and industrialisation agenda.
“The wanton, unjustified increases in prices are
unpalatable and may point to some other sinister motives,” said President
Mnangagwa. “This conduct must stop forthwith. My Government will not stand by
and leave workers and the generality of our people at the mercy of a small
group with rent seeking and profiteering tendencies.”
President Mnangagwa’s concerns on price hikes came as
Cabinet yesterday also raised concern on the move that has brought untold
suffering to the generality of the people.
Presenting the 14 Cabinet Meeting decision matrix, Minister
of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said
Government was working on mechanisms to ensure availability of foreign currency
for businesses.
“Cabinet expressed concern over the ongoing price increases
which are imposing extreme hardships on our people,’ she said. “To alleviate
the suffering of the majority of our people, Cabinet is putting in place
mechanisms to ensure foreign currency is made available to the business
community for the procurement of raw materials for production processes.
“This will go a long way in stabilising prices. In light of
this initiative, Government is appealing to businesses to exercise restraint
and stop the wanton increase of prices.”
In his Workers Day speech, President Mnangagwa assured
workers that Government would continue to protect them and to be the guarantor
to their constitutionally enshrined rights.
He said the transport system should be viable, while
housing delivery, clean water, sanitation and energy should also be adequate
and affordable.
President Mnangagwa recently unveiled a fleet of ZUPCO
buses which will ease the transport costs in both urban and rural areas.
“The comprehensive housing delivery programme and the smart
cities concept will see better living conditions for our workers,” he said.
Through the ease of doing business reforms, President
Mnangagwa said Government would continue to encourage and facilitate more
exports across all sectors, which should translate to improved business
performance and ultimately better conditions of service for the workers. Herald
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