fbpx
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsTeachers’ Union Vow To Fight For Decent Work

Teachers’ Union Vow To Fight For Decent Work

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has reiterated that it will continue to fight until their cause for decent working conditions and wages has been achieved.

ARTUZ has over the years been pushing for better working conditions and pre October 2018 of United States dollar pegged salaries and has seen the union’s leaders harassed and arrested.

In a statement to commemorate the International Day of Decent Work, ARTUZ said emerging youths are being forced into crime and prostitution due to Government failure to create employment.

Emirates

“As a union we maintain that, our rights are absolute and inviolable. They should be respected and we will continue fighting until such a reality is achieved. We also stand in solidarity with young people both qualified and ready to work. They are the present and future of our country thus they deserve the opportunity and space to contribute meaningfully.These are the same youth being forced into crime, sex work, and odd jobs because of government’s failure to create employment opportunities. Conclusively, the right to decent work should be promoted and enjoyed by all and we must work to ensure that our realities are improved. They can only be so when we start paying workers fairly and creating the environment conducive to work through respecting their rights and civil liberties,” reads the statement.

ALSO ON 263Chat:  Nurses Strike Enters Day Five

The union said Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Constitution state that everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.

“It is a constitutionally assured that government has to ensure that citizens access opportunities and work and those that work , do so  under good and conducive conditions. But in current status quo, 85 % of our population is not gainfully employed and most are confined to the informal sector where they are working in the worst of conditions without guarantee of a decent wage. Those formally / gainfully employed are also working under the worst conditions where we are denied our rights to collective bargaining as stated in section 65 of the constitution. In the past 10 months our union leaders have trailed into and out of prison cells, courts and disciplinary hearings for the fact they demanded the respect of these rights. The government is in over drive in attempt to demobilize unions and further destroy the working fraternity,” said ARTUZ.

Share this article

No comments

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.

You cannot copy content of this page