Zimbabwe Labour Court Judges sensitised on International Labour Standards
The ILO Country Office for Zimbabwe and the International Labour Standards Department in Geneva organized a sensitisation course for Labour Court Judges in Zimbabwe on international labour standards from 1-4 September 2015 in Nyanga.
4 September 2015
This was a follow-up activity to fully implement the recommendations of the 2009 ILO Commission on Inquiry on the observance of principles of freedom of association and collective bargaining. The course was aimed at building the capacity of national institutions particularly the Labour Court to ensure that an environment exists in the country in which the principles of freedom of association and collective bargaining are enjoyed in law and practice. The course also presented an opportunity for the discussion of standards on non-discrimination and termination of employment.
International labour standards adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) are important tools for the development of national legislation. However, the contribution of international labour law is not limited to its impact on labour legislation; international labour standards are also a highly valuable resource for domestic judges to settle labour disputes. Moreover, upon ratification of international Conventions by ILO Member States, judiciaries have an important role to play in parallel to governments in ensuring their country’s international obligations are respected.
Domestic courts worldwide are increasingly drawing not only on international labour Conventions and Recommendations, but also on the work of the ILO’s supervisory bodies, to interpret and complement their own domestic law.
The course was attended by seventeen (17) Labour Court Judges. Officials from the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare also attended the course that was facilitated by Ms Christina Holmgren, the Standards Specialist based in the ILO Decent Work Team in Pretoria and Mr. Maurice Okechi-Owiti, a Legal Educator from the University Of Nairobi School Of Law. This was the fourth course since 2011 for Judges, Arbitrators, Mediators and Conciliators, convened to sensitise and build capacities, in relation to freedom of association and collective bargaining, civil liberties and human rights, of the judiciary and court staff at all levels.
The course came at a time when labour issues are currently taking centre stage in the national development discourse and provided an opportunity for cross-fertilization of views and experiences of practice and formulating ideas on how to strengthen the judicial use of international labour standards in Zimbabwe. The course was officially opened by Zimbabwe’s Attorney General, Mr. Prince Machaya on behalf of the Acting Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs and Vice President, Hon. Emmerson Mnangagwa. In his speech, he acknowledged ILO’s support to the country and re-affirmed the government’s commitment to the promotion of ideals of the ILO.
He highlighted the recent recalling of Parliament from recess to consider the Labour Amendment Bill drafted to stem the dismissal of workers on notice based on the July 17 Supreme ruling that confirmed the existence of the common law position on termination of employment for both workers and employers in the Labour Act. He commended the capacity building efforts as part of the broader picture to promote social justice in the world of work.
The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Hon. Senator Prisca Mupfumira, highlighted the importance of fair labour standards in promoting sustained socio-economic growth. She also highlighted that the labour law reforms were an on-going process and as such the tripartite constituents would be meeting in the near future to consider broader labour law reforms. She also pointed out that government was of the considered view that the interactions and inputs of Labour Court Judges as practitioners and specialists in labour law will provide valuable input to enrich the labour law reform process.
The ILO Country Office for Zimbabwe Director, Ms Hopolang Phororo confirmed the ILO’s readiness to offer technical assistance aimed at strengthening the capacity of key institutions and stakeholders in the country to effectively engage in dialogue on mutually beneficial labour law reforms.
International labour standards adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) are important tools for the development of national legislation. However, the contribution of international labour law is not limited to its impact on labour legislation; international labour standards are also a highly valuable resource for domestic judges to settle labour disputes. Moreover, upon ratification of international Conventions by ILO Member States, judiciaries have an important role to play in parallel to governments in ensuring their country’s international obligations are respected.
Domestic courts worldwide are increasingly drawing not only on international labour Conventions and Recommendations, but also on the work of the ILO’s supervisory bodies, to interpret and complement their own domestic law.
The course was attended by seventeen (17) Labour Court Judges. Officials from the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare also attended the course that was facilitated by Ms Christina Holmgren, the Standards Specialist based in the ILO Decent Work Team in Pretoria and Mr. Maurice Okechi-Owiti, a Legal Educator from the University Of Nairobi School Of Law. This was the fourth course since 2011 for Judges, Arbitrators, Mediators and Conciliators, convened to sensitise and build capacities, in relation to freedom of association and collective bargaining, civil liberties and human rights, of the judiciary and court staff at all levels.
The course came at a time when labour issues are currently taking centre stage in the national development discourse and provided an opportunity for cross-fertilization of views and experiences of practice and formulating ideas on how to strengthen the judicial use of international labour standards in Zimbabwe. The course was officially opened by Zimbabwe’s Attorney General, Mr. Prince Machaya on behalf of the Acting Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs and Vice President, Hon. Emmerson Mnangagwa. In his speech, he acknowledged ILO’s support to the country and re-affirmed the government’s commitment to the promotion of ideals of the ILO.
He highlighted the recent recalling of Parliament from recess to consider the Labour Amendment Bill drafted to stem the dismissal of workers on notice based on the July 17 Supreme ruling that confirmed the existence of the common law position on termination of employment for both workers and employers in the Labour Act. He commended the capacity building efforts as part of the broader picture to promote social justice in the world of work.
The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Hon. Senator Prisca Mupfumira, highlighted the importance of fair labour standards in promoting sustained socio-economic growth. She also highlighted that the labour law reforms were an on-going process and as such the tripartite constituents would be meeting in the near future to consider broader labour law reforms. She also pointed out that government was of the considered view that the interactions and inputs of Labour Court Judges as practitioners and specialists in labour law will provide valuable input to enrich the labour law reform process.
The ILO Country Office for Zimbabwe Director, Ms Hopolang Phororo confirmed the ILO’s readiness to offer technical assistance aimed at strengthening the capacity of key institutions and stakeholders in the country to effectively engage in dialogue on mutually beneficial labour law reforms.