Government to amend Labour Act

Government has resolved to  amend the relevant provisions of the Labour Act in the face of the current offensive against workers who are being laid off on three months' notice and without retrenchment packages.

After last Friday's Supreme Court ruling allowing employers to lay off workers of three months notice, over 1000 workers have lost their jobs, and government had to convene a cabinet meeting to discuss ways of averting a potential crisis.

In a statement after today's cabinet meeting, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Prisca Mupfumira said the way forward is an urgent amendment of the Labour Act.

"Government has resolved to amend the relevant provisions of the Labour Act in the shortest possible time in order to restore equilibrium in the market. Meanwhile, government appeals to employers to exercise maximum restraint in terminating contracts of employment on notice, pursuant to the Supreme Court ruling," she said.

Mupfumira said government found nothing wrong with the Supreme Court ruling but noted that the labour law falls short of a harmonious balance between the interests of the employer and those of the employee.