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Preparations for the World Aids Day and the International Human Rights Day are now in full swing.
These days commemorated in December in all the CASWUZ six Reigions. Preparatory meetings are in the process.
Meetings for International Human Rights Day are also in progress.
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has expressed concern over the lack of interest by Employers, government included, in awarding workrs Poverty Datum Line (PDL) linked salaries.
This comes against the backdrop of Employers in the majority of industries resisting any salary adjustments, for example, in the timber industry where employers have refused workers an increament of 60 percent that will see workers earning at least $110.
This behaviour is unaaeptable given the fact that the figurs of $110 is a far cry from the PDL that stands at $500,00 and the conduct is reflected across all industries where eployers are refusing to pay PDL linked salaries.
The Union said itis unsettled because workerss are being paidslave wages while company executives swim in luxury as they are awarded out of the world perks.
If indeed companies do not have money tp pay workers, this should also be mirrored by the salaries tha executives in various comanies are earning.
The Labour movement said it will not accept that companies are incapable of paying decent salaries yet executives have five digit salaries, have access to free and unlimited fuel, unlimited cellphone allowances, have three or four vehicles at their disposal, have their children's school fees paid at private schools and they can go on a fully paid holiday with their families.
The average minimum wage remains around $100,00 but some workers especially in farming areas are earning meagre salaries as low as $10,00.
This is unacceptable given the fact that these workers need to make ends meet and need at least $500,00 to live.
ILO Commission of Inquiry into Human nad Trade Union Rights Violations is visiting Zimbabwe.
Payment of salaries is still being paid, which is still below Poverty datum line of $454 United States dollars.
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions is concerned about the continued paying of slave wages by employers.
The majority of workers have been earning an average wage of $100 since January while the Poverty Datum Line has been at $454.
Government has just announced new salary structures for public service employees but no figures are dineg mentioned yet.
Figures being mentioned range from about $140 to about $240.
The target group of the workshop was members of the National
Women,s Advisory Council and Trade Union Women Activists.
The programme objectives were to enable women trade union
leaders appreciate Core Labour Conventions which promotes the
rights of Women workers at the workplace and at the end of the
workshop comes up with a programme of action to guide in the
implementation of programmes earmarked to promote women's
rights.
Issues and topics coverd during the course of disussions included
such topica subjects as strength, Weaknesse. opportunities and
threats analysis of the Union, economic challenges faced by working
women under the current political enironment and role of the social
partners and women workers' rights.
The timeous implementation of this programme assisted a lot as it
coincided with the Union preparations for collective bargaing and for
May Day celebtations
On 7-9 April 2009 CASWUZ National Executive Council held a Strateigic Planning Workshop following the release of financial resources.
The target of this very important workshop were members of the National Executive Council. The Board which manages the affairs of the Union on a daily basis.
Basically the programme objectives were to enable national executive members to review and consolidate the strategic plan adopted on 29-31 October in 2007,review current politica, economic and social status in regards to the new political set-up, revolving around the Government of National Unity and come up with a way forward whic seeks to redirect the general operational of the Union.
All employers, government included, have heede the call to pay workers' salaries in foreign currency.
The battle for payment of salaries in foreign currency has been won, but more battles lie lie ahead of a living wage versus the slave Wage that some employers are giving their employees
As the new Prime Minister takes office, he find it fit for civil servants to open up Foreign Currency Accounts (FCA) to facilitate payment of relief allowances which were awarded as food hampers by the previous regime and later on redeemed as Cash by the Banks but were not readily accepted by the Civil Servants.
Government of National Unity has been finally put into place and is going to run for sixteen (16) months until the next elections when governmet driven by people Constitutionally would be put into place.
In these appointment of Ministers, some of them are from the Labour Movement.
Lucia Matibenga who is First Vice President was earmarked for Governorship of Masvingo.
Pauline Mpariwa the then former Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Women Advisory Secretary was appointed to be the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare.
A representative from Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA), Mr Simon Chase, who donates sanitary pads to Unions in Zimbabwe made a visit to all Unions and managed to visit some other stations who benefited from the Project.
Male counterparts members complained about their exclusion from benefittinng from the sanaitary pads distribution, which they viewed as discriminatory.
In response, the sponsor representative said the sanitary pads were targeted at women members only but that in future they may consider male members condoms.
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