Staff writer
A study on the Influence of Trade Unions on Promoting Industrial Relations in Zimbabwe shows that trade unions emerged as a result of their efforts to protect worker’s rights and workers were being more aware of their rights in many areas of their life such as the right to bargain, organize, the right to negotiate in the conditions of employment. It further asserts that trade unions have become an important instrument in the improvement of the workers’ quality of life due to the establishment of various conditions of service such as general improvement of working conditions, minimum wages, and norms for mandatory work hours, provisions for health and safety.
OVER the years, trade unions have become pivotal in advocating for healthcare workers’ rights in Zimbabwe ensuring fair treatment and improved working conditions within the sector.
Given that the health sector has been one of the most affected by the economic ills which have also been a major cause of brain drain, the sector has been left at cross roads with workers battling for survival. As a result the sector has seen the highest number of strikes as workers try to bargain for better working conditions. In abuse of health workers’ rights, the year 2023 saw a bill that imposed additional limitations on the ability to strike by Zimbabwean health workers being signed into law by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The Health Service Amendment Act, among other things, forbids health workers from going on strike for more than 72 hours, either continuously or over a two-week period, and mandates that they give written notice 48 hours in advance of the start of a strike. Those who violate these clauses face a maximum six-month prison sentence, which some have deemed to be an exceptionally harsh punishment.
This is however the tip of the iceberg as despite these stringent laws, nothing has been done by the government to ensure an improvement on their of living. It is against this background that trade unions in Zimbabwe’s healthcare sector tirelessly strive to advocate for the rights of healthcare workers, focusing on crucial aspects such as fair wages, benefits, and improved workplace conditions. Through collective bargaining, these unions negotiate with employers to secure just compensation and proper benefits, which are essential for the welfare of healthcare professionals.
Trade unions for the sector, have often assisted in organizing strikes and negotiations to demand higher wages and improved working conditions for healthcare workers. For example, during the Covid era, Medical Professional and Allied Workers Union of Zimbabwe worked tirelessly advocating that Workers in the medical sector demand a living wage in US dollars since all services were charged in US dollars and workers were paid in local currency to save on labour costs.
Other trade unions for example, Medical and Allied Trades Workers Union of Zimbabwe have been fore runners to safeguard and promote employees’ rights while the Zimbabwe Municipalities Nurses and Allied Workers Union, have been frantically working to ensure fair treatment, equitable working conditions, and access to essential resources for its members.
On the other hand, other organizations such as Medical and Allied Employers Association of Zimbabwe ( MAEAZ)have over the years worked to ensure convergence at one common platform when needed, ensuring full representation of the overall growth of Zimbabwean medical employers while addressing the needs of all its members irrespective of their affiliation or their medical practice size.
Trade unions in Zimbabwe have also made efforts to extend providing legal representation and support for workers facing unjust treatment or grievances in their workplaces and engaged in campaigns aimed at enacting policy changes and legislation that promote better working conditions and protect the rights of healthcare workers.
These endeavors not only enhance the quality of life for healthcare professionals but also contribute to the overall improvement of the healthcare system in Zimbabwe. As they continue to champion the cause of healthcare workers, the impact of trade unions remains a cornerstone in the pursuit of equitable and sustainable working environments within the sector.
It has also been the role of trade unions to champion events like national safety and health at work, for example the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) commemorates significant events to raise awareness about occupational safety and health (OSH), for example, on June 6, 2024, they commemorated the National Safety and Health Day at Work, emphasizing the importance of OSH management systems and advocating for better safety standards to prevent workplace accidents.
Trade unions in Zimbabwe have also been actively involved in advocating for legislative reforms to enhance worker safety and health calling for enactment of new OSH legislation and the push to ratify relevant International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, such as Convention 187 on the promotional framework for occupational safety and health.
They have also been vocal about violations of workplace safety protocols, particularly by foreign employers highlighting issues such as lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), substandard living conditions and inadequate safety measures.
Moreover trade unions have engaged in social dialogue emphasizing its importance between employers, workers, and the government to improve working conditions. They have advocated for honest and genuine dialogue to reduce work-related accidents and improve overall worker safety and health.