Employers Welcome Court Ruling Allowing Companies to Fire Workers

  • Blessing  Zulu

FILE: Striking workers of the National Railways of Zimbabwe stage peaceful protests in Zimbabwe's second largest city, Bulawayo.

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) and Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ) have welcomed a Supreme Court ruling that companies can terminate workers’ contracts any time without offering terminal benefits by giving them three months’ notice only.

EMCOZ president John Mufukari and CZI president David Norupiri told VOA Studio 7 that they entirely agree with the ruling, saying it’s positive for employers.

But Labour Minister Priscah Mupfumira backed by labour organizations such as the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions have raised serious concern with the ruling saying it will see many workers being retrenched.

Mupfumira says the judgement has opened floodgates for employers to terminate workers’ contracts. She said her department received reports that some workers were fired soon after the Supreme Court ruling.

For perspective, Studio 7’s Blessing Zulu reached ZCTU president George Nkiwane and self-confessed libertarian independent economist Rejoice Ngwenya of Liberal Market Solutions.

Ngwenya says the ruling is positive.

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