PH
Senate yesterday rejected proposed changes to the Labour Amendment Bill by the MDC-T, prompting the opposition party’s members to walk out in protest, culminating in the passage of the Bill without amendments.
The Bill now awaits Presidential assent to become law. Masvingo Senator Misheck Marava and his Matabeleland South counterpart Sithembile Mlotshwa moved the MDC-T amendments at committee stage, but committee chairperson and Chiefs Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira upheld the non-affirmative vote by zanu-pf senators and traditional leaders.
After all amendments were rejected and as Chief Charumbira prepared to report to Senate president Cde Edna Madzongwe, MDC-T senators left their seats and walked out of the chamber.
zanu-pf legislators started ululating as the Bill was about to be read for the third and final time to signal its passage.
During debate on the Bill, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira, who was steering it, said all amendments from stakeholders would be tabled before the Tripartite Negotiating Forum for consideration.
TNF groups the Government, labour and industry.
Minister Mupfumira said the Supreme Court ruling involving Zuva Petroleum and its two employees conferring a right on an employer to terminate contract on three months’ notice required legislators to swiftly respond as it was potentially hazardous and threatened national security and eroded the purpose of TNF.
“I acknowledge the valuable submissions and proposals to further amend the Labour Act,” she said. “However, since reforms are a process, the House should be assured that concerns would be addressed in due course whilst immediate relief is provided to the masses of employees who were offloaded with nothing.”
“My Ministry is amenable to refining the Bill and conduct further consultations beyond this expeditious process.”
Minister Mupfumira rapped employer representatives who failed to attend TNF meetings on two occasions in July to consider the draft Bill, as in one instance they indicated that they were in Kariba and requested for a deferment.
