Forced Labour
Prohibition on Forced and Compulsory Labour
Forced/compulsory labour is prohibited and outlawed under the Constitution and Labour Act. In accordance with the Labour Amendment Act 2015, forced labour means any work or services which a person is required to perform against his or her will under the threat of some form of punishment.
Labour Amendment Act (11/2023) repeals and re-enacts section 4A to clarify what constitutes forced labour and the exceptions (e.g. compulsory military service, civic obligations, lawful prison labour, emergency work), bringing the text closer to ILO Convention 29.
If a person does not comply with the regulations provided by labour act, he/she is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level twelve or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding ten years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
Trafficking in Persons Act provides for the prohibition, prevention and prosecution of the crime of trafficking in persons and the protection of victims of trafficking; and to establish an Anti-Trafficking Inter-Ministerial Committee and provide for its composition and functions.
Source: §54-55 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment) Act, 2013; §4(C) of the Labour Act 1985; Trafficking in Persons Act No. 4 of 2014; §2 of the Labour Amendment Act, 2015; §3(3) of the Labour Amendment Act, 2023
Freedom to Change Jobs and Right to Quit
Workers have the right to change jobs after serving due notice on their employer.
For more information on this, please refer to the section on employment security.
Source: §12(4 & 5) of the Labour Act 1985
Inhumane Working Conditions
Working time may be extended beyond normal working hours determined by Ministry of Labour. Normal working hours for young workers and domestic workers are 6 hours per day and 9.5 hours per day respectively. Overtime may be regulated under Collective Bargaining Agreement.
For more information on this, please refer to the section on compensation.
Source: §17(3)(C & J) & 74(3)(E) of the Labour Act 1985; §4(1)(a) of the Labour Relations (Employment of Children and Young Persons) Regulations; §5 of the Labour Relations (Domestic Workers) Employment Regulations
Regulations on Forced Labour
- Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment) Act, 2013
- Labour Act 1985, last amended in 2015
