Cabinet mulls social contract to address price hikes
CABINET yesterday said there is a need for a reduction in the cost of digital transactions and to come up with a social contract as part of efforts to address the continued escalation of prices of basic commodities.
Addressing the 38th Cabinet Meeting Decision Matrix, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa said there was a need to raise productivity in all sectors of the economy.
“Cabinet also took cognisance of the urgent need to reduce the cost of digital transactions, as well as come up with a Social Contract under the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF), which brings together Government, business and labour, in order to agree on mechanisms to ensure a stable macro-economic environment taking into account salaries and prices of goods and services,” she said.
“Cabinet further stressed the need to raise productivity in all sectors of the economy, with each sector Minister being required to come up with appropriate incentives.” The TNF was established early this year following the signing into law of the TNF Act that was passed by Parliament last year.
The platform aims at bringing together, in a formal manner, the three social partners to deal with various issues affecting the economy.
Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet had noted that the price hikes were affecting citizens through the erosion of incomes.
“Cabinet generally attributed the price hikes to currency volatility, the apparent application of replacement pricing by business owners, adverse inflationary expectations, the high cost of electronic financial transaction, shortage of cash in the economy, and increased demand for foreign currency to fund imports,” Minister Mutsvangwa said.
“Accordingly, Cabinet wishes to inform the nation that in the short to medium term, the situation alluded to will be addressed through the systematic injection of more cash into the economy in a manner that does not exacerbate money supply growth and which erases cash arbitrage opportunities and promotes currency stability.