ZCTU Urges Private Sector To Pay Workers COVID-19 Allowances
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has urged the private sector to emulate the Government by giving workers COVID-19 allowances.
In January this year, the Government resolved to pay civil servants US$75 COVID-19 risk allowances in hard cash to provide a cushion for them amid the rising cost of living driven by inflation which is above 60 per cent.
Addressing workers at ZCTU Southern region board-room in Masvingo, on 24 January 2022, ZCTU president Florence Mucha Taruvinga said:
The private sector is neglecting its workers by not giving them COVID-19 allowances like what the government is doing.
What is disturbing is that the private sector just follows government moves in enforcing lockdown periods as well as lifting them when the government does so, but they would not even bother to follow when it comes to giving workers COVID-19 allowances.
The pandemic is affecting every worker and every worker should be given COVID-19 allowances to help them during this difficult time of the pandemic.
Taruvinga also chided the Government for allegedly conniving with the private sector to oppress workers. She said:
The government and private sector employers have joined hands in oppressing us as workers. They are failing to meet our basic needs as workers.
What should we do when a worker’s salary is below ZW$71 000 that was drafted last year when the same worker is failing to travel from one place to the other just because his/her salary is not sufficient?
She said workers ought to be paid salaries and wages in US dollars as the market is now demanding US dollars.
Taruvinga was accompanied by vice presidents Valentine Chikosi, Nicholas Muchapiwa and Runesu Chipamaunga, Secretary-general Japhet Moyo, his deputies Runesu Dzimiri and Kudakwashe Charumbira, Treasury general Douglas Chiradza.
