The Labor Court rejected the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions' attempt to force their secretary-general, Japhet Moyo, into retirement at age 60. Justice Lillian Kudya ruled last week that ZCTU acted unlawfully when it tried to retire Moyo without proper legal basis. The court found that the union never gave Moyo a fair hearing about his retirement. The decision violated his rights under recent changes to the Labor Act.
Moyo challenged the August 7, 2024, retirement notice on five grounds. The court agreed that under current law, only workers can decide when to retire. Employers cannot make this decision alone anymore. ZCTU failed to show any valid workplace rules that would allow them to retire Moyo. The judge called their action arbitrary since they couldn't prove it followed established policies.
The court didn't order ZCTU to bring Moyo back right away. Instead, Justice Kudya told the union to reconsider the issue after giving Moyo a proper chance to present his side. The August retirement decision was thrown out completely. Both sides must pay their legal fees.
Moyo challenged the August 7, 2024, retirement notice on five grounds. The court agreed that under current law, only workers can decide when to retire. Employers cannot make this decision alone anymore. ZCTU failed to show any valid workplace rules that would allow them to retire Moyo. The judge called their action arbitrary since they couldn't prove it followed established policies.
The court didn't order ZCTU to bring Moyo back right away. Instead, Justice Kudya told the union to reconsider the issue after giving Moyo a proper chance to present his side. The August retirement decision was thrown out completely. Both sides must pay their legal fees.
