The Chamber of Deputies yesterday passed the new Labour bill that governs relations between employers and their employees. This comes after a show of strong commitment by workers across the country to work harder for the country’s development, during the Labour Day celebrations.

The legislative framework will be in place that actually spells out working hours and other issues to do with maternity leave for expecting mothers and the prohibition of child labour.

While certainly one will not from the onset discount moans and groans here and there over increased working hours, the law leaves this to the prerogative of the employer and employees to negotiate.

However, it has to be understood that if we are to attract investment to the country and create more jobs, then the conducive laws have to be in place.

While at the same time cautioning against the abuse by employers of the increased working hours from 40 to 45 per week.

These are meant to improve on productivity, meaning that on any particular day of hard work, what we achieved in the past be it in the private or public sectors will now have an increased value.

Benefits therefore accrued from the shop floor must reflect in economic growth at a national level, including increased investment.

Commendable in the passed bill is that the previously abused children forced to work in order to supplement family incomes, are now protected. Child labour is criminalised with tough measures in place to punish those found guilty.

Women who have fought hard for full pay during maternity leave have not been left out, as they will still be entitled to 12 weeks leave on full pay.  

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