Continuity of National Employment Councils amidst legal reforms: An analysis of the new section 56 of the Labour Act (Chapter 28:01)

Continuity of National Employment Councils amidst legal reforms: An analysis of the new section 56 of the Labour Act (Chapter 28:01) | Zenodo Skip to main Communities My dashboard Log in Sign up Published April 25, 2026 | Version v1 Journal Open Continuity of National Employment Councils amidst legal reforms: An analysis of the new section 56 of the Labour Act (Chapter 28:01) Authors/Creators Rose Mambo 1 Show affiliations 1.

Africa University, College of Business, Peace, Leadership and Governance (CBPLG), PO BOX 1320 Mutare, Zimbabwe Description The Labour Amendment Act 11 of 2023 in Zimbabwe, which repealed and redefined s 56 of the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01], has raised significant concerns regarding the ongoing existence and effective functioning of the National Employment Councils (NECs). These bodies are central to Zimbabwe's industrial relations system, playing a crucial role in facilitating collective bargaining and resolving disputes. This paper offers a critical analysis of the legal and institutional framework governing NECs, focusing on how the recent legislative changes have substantially altered their legal status and operational capacity, thereby creating considerable uncertainties within the legal environment. The landmark case of DGL Investments (Pvt) Ltd v Martin Ndlovu & 14 Others exemplifies judicial interpretation of these legislative changes, effectively ruling that voluntary NECs have 'ceased to exist' following the enactment of the amendment, which casts doubt on their continued legitimacy and practical relevance. The fallout from this ruling includes disruptions to dispute resolution processes and the weakening of tripartite governance structures, raising broader concerns about the stability of industrial relations. Different stakeholders' perspectives vary; employers worry about reduced bargaining leverage, workers and unions face challenges in maintaining collective voice, designated agents of NECs encounter operational uncertainties, and government labour officials struggle with enforcement and oversight issues. Overall, these developments threaten to destabilise Zimbabwe's tripartite framework, potentially undermining core principles of collective bargaining and industrial harmony. The paper concludes with specific recommendations for legal and policy reforms aimed at clarifying the legal status of NECs, restoring their operational capacity, and strengthening Zimbabwe's commitment to a robust tripartite labour relations system, in line with constitutional provisions and international labour standards. Files GRSMRS2026000305 Gallery Proof.pdf Files (712.5 kB) Name Size Download all GRSMRS2026000305 Gallery Proof.pdf md5:69445d7caf834c6665d3af154fc9476d 712.5 kB Preview Download 78 Views 37 Downloads Show more details All versions This version Views Total views 78 78 Downloads Total downloads 37 37 Data volume Total data volume 35.6 MB 35.6 MB More info on how stats are collected.... Versions External resources Indexed in OpenAIRE Communities Keywords and subjects Keywords National Employment Councils, collective bargaining, Labour Amendment Act, tripartism, Zimbabwe, designated agents, labour dispute resolution Details DOI DOI Badge DOI 10.5281/zenodo.19754889 Markdown [](https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19754889) reStructuredText .. image:: https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.19754889.svg :target: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19754889 HTML <a href="https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19754889"><img src="https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.19754889.svg" alt="DOI"></a> Image URL https://zenodo.org/badge/DOI/10.5281/zenodo.19754889.svg Target URL https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19754889 Resource type Journal Publisher Zenodo Published in GRS Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Studies, 3(4), 21-31, ISSN: 3049-0561, 2026. Rights License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International The Creative Commons Attribution license allows re-distribution and re-use of a licensed work on the condition that the creator is appropriately credited. Read more Copyright © Copyright GRS Publisher. All Rights Reserved Citation Export Technical metadata Created April 25, 2026 Modified April 25, 2026 Jump up About About Policies Infrastructure Principles Projects Roadmap Contact Blog Blog Support Help FAQ Developers REST API OAI-PMH Contribute GitHub Donate Funded by Powered by CERN Data Centre & InvenioRDM Status Privacy policy Cookie policy Terms of Use This site uses cookies. Find out more on how we use cookies Accept all cookies Accept only essential cookies

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