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By Martin Muleya

Government of Zimbabwe plans to incorporate players in the informal sector to also comply with the labour laws and regulation which will see them paying tax.

Speaking at the official opening of the International Labour Organization (ILO) four day workshop that was held in Mutare, deputy Minister of Labour, Public Service and Social Welfare who is the late Vice President Simon Muzenda’s son, Tongai Muzenda said plans are already in place for labour inspection programmes with a view to rope in those in the informal sector to also pay tax since they have workers.

“This labour inspection workshop is there with a view to rope in those in the informal trading. We know that they also want to earn a living by using their skills of trade and therefore they are not tsotsis.

But we are saying is that while they conduct their business and employing other people they must also observe the labour laws and statutes of which this country is a signatory and also paying tax to government,” said Muzenda.

He however admitted that the informal sector has of late not been complying with the labour laws and the labour inspection workshop was going to be the vehicle through which communication will be brought to their doorsteps with a view of seeking compliance with labour laws.

He said players in the Informal sector and the small to medium enterprises who are employing the bulk of job seekers will also be included on the tax branch.

He reiterated that although government is committed to empower its people through the much publicized Indigenisation and economic empowerment initiatives, his ministry will leave no stone unturned to make sure that everybody pays tax.

“We are happy with the efforts by the informal sector of employing job seekers as well as SMEs but our thrust is to make sure that everybody who employs people to provide service also pay tax. As citizens of this country we need to appreciate that government has no enough funds and this initiative is not a punishment but rather a social purpose,” he said.

The four day labour inspection workshop was held under the theme “Building modern and effective labour administration and labour inspection system in Zimbabwe”.

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