NEC Agriculture Leads in Protecting Workers’ Rights

Balancing the Scales-

By Shingirai Vambe

Post-2000, Zimbabwe’s controversial land reform programme reshaped the nation’s agricultural and labour dynamics. Once dominated by a small group of white commercial farmers, the agricultural sector experienced a dramatic shift as land ownership was redistributed to thousands of new black farmers. While this broke the historic monopoly, it also ushered in a new set of challenges, ranging from soaring costs of inputs such as seeds and chemicals, to increased demands on farm maintenance and salaries.

With the restructuring of land ownership came the urgent need to address labour relations in a sector that now employed hundreds of thousands across the country. Government, under pressure to manage the evolving workplace environment, strengthened its focus on labour laws. Through trade unions and formal dialogue structures, National Employment Councils (NECs) were created as vehicles for collective bargaining, dispute resolution, and industrial harmony.

The legal basis for NECs is found in Sections 56 and 57 of the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01].

Section 56 provides for voluntary employment councils, while Section 57 allows the Minister to establish statutory employment councils where deemed in the national interest. Over the years, these institutions have become central to maintaining balance between employers and employees, particularly in volatile sectors like agriculture. As Munyoro and Rupapa (2017) noted, “harmonious resolution of labour disputes is critical for attracting investment opportunities in the country and enhancing productivity.”

Zimbabwe’s economic shifts have also altered the structure of the labour force. Today, nearly 87 percent of workers are employed in the private sector, with agriculture remaining the largest employer, accounting for more than 100,000 workers and farm owners. This vast workforce makes NEC Agriculture one of the fastest-growing employment councils in the country, carrying a heavy responsibility to regulate labour relations in an industry critical to national food security and export earnings.

In recognition of these demands, NEC Agriculture recently organised a two-day training workshop in Harare for its Designated Agents (DAs) members and staff drawn from the country’s 10 provinces and districts. The training, facilitated by legal practitioner Samson Mugumisi, was designed to enhance their proficiency in mediating labour disputes and enforcing workplace laws.

Addressing participants, Mugumisi underscored the importance of professionalism and legal grounding. “There has to be a dispute for you to preside on, avoid mediating on social issues between parties. It has to be a work-related matter,” he cautioned. He further urged DAs to always anchor their decisions on the Labour Act and past precedent, particularly when dealing with complex cases.

Zimbabwe’s fragile economy continues to push companies into survival mode. With inflation, shrinking consumer demand, and the growing adoption of technology, including artificial intelligence, many firms are retrenching workers or closing altogether. This trend has raised concerns within government.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo has warned against improper retrenchment exercises, stressing that his ministry will investigate whether layoffs are being carried out lawfully. Speaking at the Employers’ Confederation of Zimbabwe (Emcoz) annual congress, Moyo said retrenchments should not become tools for settling personal scores in the workplace.

“You need to ensure fair labour practices happen,” he said. “Yes, there will always be disputes, but especially when it comes to retrenchments, I have asked my officers to go into industry to check what is driving them. When you find a retrenchment is targeted, you wonder what is happening. Is that one person such a burden that the company is on fire because of them? Then, in the next two months, that position is filled by another. So retrenchments become another route for trying to settle scores at the workplace.”

Moyo revealed ongoing efforts to establish a Labour Market Information System (LMIS), a tool designed to provide data on employment trends, skills shortages, and labour market patterns. He argued that such a system could improve workforce planning, inform training programmes, and strengthen evidence-based policy, ultimately making labour markets more efficient.

Despite government calls for fair practice, business leaders argue that the broader economic environment makes compliance increasingly difficult. Emcoz president Denis Mbauya lamented that formal enterprises are being pushed into bankruptcy by high costs and regulatory burdens, accelerating the growth of the informal sector.

“The cost of doing business in Zimbabwe remains high,” he said. “From multiple taxes and levies to high utility costs and regulatory burdens, enterprises continue to carry significant overheads that limit their competitiveness.”

Mbauya urged government to expedite policy reforms and address structural bottlenecks while also calling for youth empowerment through training and entrepreneurship initiatives.

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Florence Taruvinga stressed the need for trust and cooperation between employers and employees. She highlighted that meaningful dialogue and fair bargaining remain essential for building sustainable industrial relations.

NEC Agriculture has emerged as a trailblazer. The council has led the way in updating labour regulations, including amendments aimed at curbing child labour and enhancing protections for workers. Its training programmes for DAs demonstrate a proactive approach to equipping mediators with the knowledge and confidence to address disputes effectively.

The story of Zimbabwe’s labour environment is one of constant tension between economic realities and the pursuit of fairness in the workplace. NEC Agriculture’s growing prominence reflects the central role of the agricultural sector not only in feeding the nation but also in employing and protecting hundreds of thousands of workers.

As the economy continues to evolve, with pressures from technology, retrenchments, climate change and informality, institutions like NECs are expected to remain vital in balancing the needs of employers and employees. Their mandate, to promote industrial harmony and enhance productivity, has never been more urgent.

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