Labour Act microwaved in the national assembly, says Jessie Majome

Harare West MP Jessie Majome has indicated that the Labour Amendment Bill was microwaved in the National Assembly.

"The Labour Amendment Bill was microwaved in the National Assembly going through all the National Assembly processes in one sitting," she said. "This was not without controversy as the Parliamentary Legal Committee Adverse Report on its retrospectivity was rejected and later amendments proposed by MDCT MPs were disregarded undemocratically."

She said the PLC which I am a member of, gave an Adverse Report on the LAB based on the bill's clause 18 (which seeks to retrospectively apply the new law to workers who were served 3 months notice on or after 17 July 2015) which violates Section 3(2)(e) of the Constitution - The principle of Separation of Powers.

"Most MPs in the house save for Hon. Misihairabwi, Hon. Chapfika and Hon. Kereke misinterpreted the report as pro employer and anti-Bill but what we actually said was that Parliament would then be interfering in judicial processes, if that part of the law was passed," said Majome.

"I debated on the Bill informed by all that you said(wrote) on my previous Facebook post and acknowledged it. I am most grateful of your participation which added to the lively debate in the National Assembly."

She said she  proposed amending Clause 4 of the Bill to fix a period or formula for a worker to be considered a permanent worker, caution about the provision limiting termination on notice only to mutual agreement, as it applies both ways. "I'm convinced that it's government's failure to produce the promised 2.2 million jobs besides mismanaging the economy and failing to provide social security that has landed us in this mess. I therefore suggested that a special fund be set up by the government through NSSA to support the 22700 workers who lost their jobs (thank you Simeon Mawanza and Rumbidzai Dube for supporting my NSSA idea," she said.

"I proposed amending Clause 14 of the LAB by removing the politically exploitative excuse of 'public interest' to refuse registering collective bargaining agreements, and clause 15 to prevent the Minister from interfering with employment councils and trade unions. I decried the retrenchment package of 1 month salary for 2 years worked as paltry and proffered the special NSSA fund I mooted as a means also of augmenting this pittance."

Majome said the LAB went to the Senate on Thursday where it sailed through without any amendments despite the (dishonest) undertakings of the Minister and the National Assembly leadership that the stifling of the amendments proposed my MDC T MPs would be remedied in the Senate.

"I understand MDC T senators stormed out in protest. What's left for is for the Bill to be assented to so it becomes law. The National Assembly was adjourned until 25 August 2015 for a very exciting reason that I will share with you," she said.