Workers in Zimbabwe reflect on the Future of Work
Trade union leaders met on 21 and 22 October 2019, in Harare for a labour symposium under the theme: “The Future of Work: Towards a resilient social contract”. The meeting discussed the disruptions currently experienced and expected in the world of work, offering possible strategies to ensure a human centered agenda in the future. The meeting also discussed the future of trade unions in the face of all these changes.
29 October 2019
(Harare, ILO News) The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions hosted symposium saw around 200 delegates convene in Harare to deliberate on the future of work they want for Zimbabwe. This was in the face of the world of work that is being shaped by changing technology, the transition to a sustainable environment and demographic changes. These trends have implications for the world of work and require adaptations by governments, business and workers.
In his opening remarks, the President of ZCTU Mr. Peter Mutasa, emphasized the need to deepen the discussion on union ideology as a means to revive the movement for workers’ rights. Noting that workers in Zimbabwe were undergoing very difficult conditions in the post-independence era, the challenges were enough to discourage them from reflecting on the future of work. Mr Mutasa encouraged the workers to ensure that their voices are heard in the current discussion on the future, pointing that this was an opportunity for them to shape that future.
Mr. Kenias Shamhuyarira, the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) called on workers to lead the fight to end corruption and to fight inequality. He opined that if these immediate challenges are not tackled, Zimbabwean workers might not have any future to talk of and he called for dialogue that was more inclusive of all arms of decision makers.
Business, through the Executive Director of Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ) Mrs. Nester Mukwehwa called for greater trust in tripartism and social dialogue. “As business we want to reiterate the call for a resilient social contract to ensure an inclusive and better future of work. We are mindful that this can only be achieved through social dialogue”. Business expressed hope in what the Tripartite Negotiating Forum could achieve for the economy, if everyone pulled together.
The ILO Director for the Country Office for Zimbabwe and Namibia, Ms. Hopolang Phororo, said that the new world of work would create new challenges, as well as opportunities for government, employers, workers and other stakeholders. She noted that labour market players have an opportunity to chart a new path for a human centred agenda that ensured that more people benefited from opportunities created by growing economies. “As the world of work changes, so is the need for workers’ organizations to adapt and remain fit for purpose. Workers have many tools at their disposal to ensure that the concerns of the working class, today and in the future, are addressed. In my opinion, the foremost tool at your disposal is social dialogue”, said Ms. Phororo.
The discussion on the future of unions noted possible developments around: marginalization; dualization; substitution - other social organizations leading the fight; and renewal -unions finding a way to reinvigorate themselves. The meeting further discussed on some of the strategies needed in order to respond to the challenges that emerge as new forms of work emerge.
It was agreed that evolution by unions was essential for them to remain relevant or face the danger of becoming obsolete.
The meeting ended with a Declaration, which articulated the position of workers on the future of work and outlined a strategy for engagement to safeguard the interests of workers. The Declaration also reiterated the commitment of labour bodies in Zimbabwe to continue to pursue greater levels of dialogue and unity of purpose.
Presentations on the ILO’s Global Commission on the Future of Work’s report; the ILO Centenary Declaration; inclusive growth; gender equality and the future of work; changing nature of work; transition from informality to formality and a discussion on the future of unions, were also made.
The delegates for the symposium were from various unions from all provinces of the country, representatives of workers in the informal economy, government officials, civil society and development partners.
Also participating in the meeting were delegates from Southern African Trade Union Council (SATUC).
In his opening remarks, the President of ZCTU Mr. Peter Mutasa, emphasized the need to deepen the discussion on union ideology as a means to revive the movement for workers’ rights. Noting that workers in Zimbabwe were undergoing very difficult conditions in the post-independence era, the challenges were enough to discourage them from reflecting on the future of work. Mr Mutasa encouraged the workers to ensure that their voices are heard in the current discussion on the future, pointing that this was an opportunity for them to shape that future.
Mr. Kenias Shamhuyarira, the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) called on workers to lead the fight to end corruption and to fight inequality. He opined that if these immediate challenges are not tackled, Zimbabwean workers might not have any future to talk of and he called for dialogue that was more inclusive of all arms of decision makers.
Business, through the Executive Director of Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ) Mrs. Nester Mukwehwa called for greater trust in tripartism and social dialogue. “As business we want to reiterate the call for a resilient social contract to ensure an inclusive and better future of work. We are mindful that this can only be achieved through social dialogue”. Business expressed hope in what the Tripartite Negotiating Forum could achieve for the economy, if everyone pulled together.
The ILO Director for the Country Office for Zimbabwe and Namibia, Ms. Hopolang Phororo, said that the new world of work would create new challenges, as well as opportunities for government, employers, workers and other stakeholders. She noted that labour market players have an opportunity to chart a new path for a human centred agenda that ensured that more people benefited from opportunities created by growing economies. “As the world of work changes, so is the need for workers’ organizations to adapt and remain fit for purpose. Workers have many tools at their disposal to ensure that the concerns of the working class, today and in the future, are addressed. In my opinion, the foremost tool at your disposal is social dialogue”, said Ms. Phororo.
The discussion on the future of unions noted possible developments around: marginalization; dualization; substitution - other social organizations leading the fight; and renewal -unions finding a way to reinvigorate themselves. The meeting further discussed on some of the strategies needed in order to respond to the challenges that emerge as new forms of work emerge.
It was agreed that evolution by unions was essential for them to remain relevant or face the danger of becoming obsolete.
The meeting ended with a Declaration, which articulated the position of workers on the future of work and outlined a strategy for engagement to safeguard the interests of workers. The Declaration also reiterated the commitment of labour bodies in Zimbabwe to continue to pursue greater levels of dialogue and unity of purpose.
Presentations on the ILO’s Global Commission on the Future of Work’s report; the ILO Centenary Declaration; inclusive growth; gender equality and the future of work; changing nature of work; transition from informality to formality and a discussion on the future of unions, were also made.
The delegates for the symposium were from various unions from all provinces of the country, representatives of workers in the informal economy, government officials, civil society and development partners.
Also participating in the meeting were delegates from Southern African Trade Union Council (SATUC).