Parly begins TNF Bill consultations

PARLIAMENT has begun public consultations on the Tripartite Negotiating Forum Bill that seeks to provide a platform for consultations on socio-economic issues between Government, business and labour.

The Bill is among prospective laws that were enunciated by President Mnangagwa when he delivered his State of the Nation Address during the official opening of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament. The Bill was gazetted on June 8. In a statement, Parliament said the consultations were a fulfilment of their constitutional obligations as enshrined in Section 141.

“In compliance with this constitutional provision, and as part of public consultations meant to enhance participatory democracy, the Parliament of Zimbabwe is inviting comments on the Tripartite Negotiating Forum Bill, H.B. 5, 2018 for consideration by the relevant committee(s),” reads part of Parliament’s statement.

Members of the public have to make their written submissions by January 25 next year while public hearings are expected to be held soon after.

The functions of the forum include consulting and negotiating over social and economic issues and submitting recommendations to Cabinet.

It will negotiate a social contract as and when necessary and foster cooperation of the tripartite constituents and consult other key stakeholders and contribute to the formulation and implementation of social and economic policies.

The TNF will also follow up and monitor implementation of agreements.

Government representatives to the forum will be appointed by the President, seven members nominated by labour and appointed by the line minister, and seven members from business.

There will be two observers drawn from the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe and the National Economic Consultative Forum.

Clause 4 of the Bill sets out the qualifications of members, among them that one should be a citizen or permanently resident in Zimbabwe, must not have been declared insolvent and should not have a criminal record.

Clause 5 stipulates that it is the preserve of each constituency to remove a member from the main TNF provided that the removal should not take effect before the expiry of 14 days from the date of notification.

Clause 8 stipulates that the agenda of the main TNF should be set by the management committee composed of representatives from the ministry responsible for labour, business as nominated by the respective principals.

Clause 10 provides that decisions of the main TNF shall be by consensus.

Clause 10 of the Bill states that the decisions of the main TNF within the domain of socio-economic policy shall form recommendations to Cabinet.