The Sunday News
THE Zimbabwe National Editors Forum (Zinef) has expressed concern over the recent sacking of journalists and other members of the media fratenity last week in line with the recent Supreme Court ruling empowering employers to terminate employment contracts as and when they deem necessary.
In a statement, acting chairperson Mr Njabulo Ncube appealed for restraint.
“Zinef notes with concern the on-going trend where our members’ contracts are being terminated on notice. While acknowledging that the economy is in dire straits due to a myriad of problems, we are appealing to media houses and publishers to exercise restraint by considering other options like reducing allowances and benefits and in some instances even lowering grades,” he said.
He urged Parliament to speed up the passing of a new Labour Bill which is sensitive to the interests of both the employer and employee.
On Friday Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Limited terminated contracts of 109 employees including journalists. Last month Alpha Media Holdings, the publishers of NewsDay, The Zimbabwe Independent and The Standard, fired five journalists and 16 newspaper inserters while the Daily News fired five journalists.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) held demonstrations in Bulawayo and Harare yesterday over the landmark Supreme Court ruling.
Union members marched across the city to Mhlahlandlela Government Complex where the leadership addressed the demonstrators.
The vice-president of the union, Ms Sithokozile Siwela, said they were disappointed over the move, saying workers had been left destitute.
“We do not understand this ruling, people are now suffering, both the workers and their families. They do not have essential things like medical aid now and it is a cause for concern,” she said.
She said the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare had the authority to stop the current situation but they were not taking any action.
She said the remaining workers that have not been fired were still not safe.
“We do not know what will happen to the remaining workers and we still feel they are not safe as they can be fired at any time,” she said.
ZCTU Western Region chairperson Mr Reason Ngwenya said the dismissals had to be reversed for the nation to go forward.
“The dismissals should be reversed if we are to go forward, the young were dismissed just when they were starting families and it is a serious drawback even to the older people,” said Mr Ngwenya.
It is understood that more than 18 000 people have lost their jobs since the Supreme Court ruling of July 17, and trade unions have appealed for a Presidential decree to stop the unilateral sacking of employees while Government has settled for the parliamentary route to amend the law to protect employees. The Government has noted that there was nothing wrong with the court ruling since the courts only interpreted a law that needed to be changed using the normal parliamentary processes. The Labour Amendment Bill is expected in Parliament this week after it was adopted by Cabinet last week.
