Zimbabwe commemorated Workers’ Day on Friday against a backdrop of deepening economic hardship, shrinking labour protections and growing concern over governance reforms that critics say could further weaken workers’ rights.
Trade unions, civic groups and constitutional watchdogs used the occasion to highlight the widening gap between workers’ earnings and the cost of living, warning systemic failures continue to erode livelihoods across sectors.
Addressing a press briefing on May 1, 2026 in Bulawayo, the Constitution Defenders Forum (CDF) said this year’s commemorations came at a critical juncture, as Parliament considers the controversial Constitution Amendment Bill No. 3.
CDF Deputy National Spokesperson Chiedza Mlingo, said the proposed changes raise fundamental concerns about accountability and democratic renewal.
“This raises a fundamental question: What does it mean for Zimbabwean workers if the same governance framework that has failed to guarantee fair wages, social protection, and economic justice is prolonged without democratic renewal?” said Mlingo.
She warned the proposed amendment could delay harmonised elections to 2035, effectively extending the tenure of the current political establishment beyond constitutionally envisaged limits.
“The erosion of constitutional safeguards directly undermines accountability mechanisms that workers rely on to demand better conditions. Without periodic elections and leadership renewal, the prospects for meaningful reform become increasingly remote,” she said.
Workers’ Day is traditionally marked by calls for improved wages and working conditions, while this year’s theme, centred on dignity, fair wages and inclusive economic participation, resonates sharply in Zimbabwe, where most workers reportedly earn below the Poverty Datum Line (PDL).
Across both the public and private sectors, wages have remained largely stagnant while the cost of basic commodities, transport, housing and healthcare continues rising.
“Many civil servants and private sector employees alike earn salaries that cannot sustain a household beyond a few days each month, forcing them into cycles of debt and informal survival strategies,” Mlingo said.
The ongoing crisis in the health sector has become emblematic of these challenges. Nurses have repeatedly went on strike, demanding salaries that reflect the cost of living, along with adequate medical supplies and improved working conditions.
Their demands include a living wage pegged in stable currency and access to proper equipment.
In response, the government offered a modest salary top-up of about US$30, alongside additional payments in ZiG, a move widely dismissed by labour groups as inadequate.
“This response falls drastically short of addressing the structural challenges facing healthcare workers. It neither restores the value of their earnings nor addresses the broader systemic collapse of the public health sector,” Mlingo said.
Teachers are facing similar struggles, with many citing poor remuneration, lack of teaching materials, and deteriorating working conditions.
Once regarded as a cornerstone of national development, teachers are increasingly resorting to job action, absenteeism, or migration in search of better opportunities.
“The result has been a steady deterioration in the quality of education, ultimately undermining the country’s long-term human capital development,” Mlingo noted.
Zimbabwe’s economic realities have also forced a significant portion of the population into the informal sector, with vending and small-scale trading becoming the primary means of survival for many.
However, informal workers continue to face structural barriers, including crackdowns by local authorities, confiscation of goods, and restrictions on night trading.
“These measures disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, particularly women and youth, stripping them of their only means of survival,” Mlingo said.
Concerns have also been raised about working conditions in the mining sector, particularly in some foreign-owned operations.
Reports of workplace accidents, violent confrontations, and alleged abuse of Zimbabwean workers have persisted since 2025, pointing to what labour groups describe as a failure to enforce safety standards and labour protections.
In agriculture, tobacco farmers, a key source of foreign currency, have expressed frustration over low auction prices, lack of transparency, and exploitative contract arrangements.
Despite their contribution to the economy, many growers say they are trapped in cycles of debt and diminishing returns.
The Zimbabwe Constitutional Movement (ZICOMO), echoed these concerns, noting Workers’ Day 2026 reflects a state of ongoing crisis for labour.
“Despite their invaluable contributions, the conditions faced by workers in Zimbabwe in 2026 reflect a state of ongoing crisis,” the group said in a statement.
ZICOMO said inflation continues to erode wages, pensions, and savings, leaving workers increasingly vulnerable and uncertain about their financial futures.
“Workplaces often present unsafe and unhealthy conditions, contributing to a diminished quality of life and increased risks,” ZICOMO said in their statement.
The group claimed the State has enacted laws that “the right to strike, effectively suppressing workers’ voices and their ability to advocate for better conditions and wages.”
ZICOMO further pointed to high youth unemployment and declining industrial capacity, attributing the trends to corruption, inconsistent policies, calling it “elite capture”.
“The Constitution of Zimbabwe contains several important provisions aimed at protecting the rights of workers.
“Section 65 guarantees fair labour practices, including the right to just and equitable wages and the fundamental right to strike. Unfortunately, these rights frequently remain unfulfilled,” the group said.
ZICOMO added that Section 24, which calls for policies that promote employment opportunities, has been undermined by job losses and limited economic growth, while Section 68’s guarantee of administrative justice remains elusive for many workers.
“This Workers’ Day is particularly noteworthy as Parliament debates the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No. 3 Bill,” said the group.
The group also warned the proposed amendments could weaken checks on executive power, extend political terms, and reduce parliamentary oversight in key areas.
“ZICOMO firmly asserts that amendments should not be used as a tool to evade accountability. If passed, Amendment No. 3 has the potential to undermine equality before the law and entrench political privilege for a select few,” the group said.