‎Harare, (New Ziana) – In a strong show of unity and commitment to the national development agenda, key stakeholders in the printing and packaging sector gathered in Harare on Monday for a high-level engagement workshop which the National Employment Council for the industry convened.
‎The event was held in collaboration with the Federation of Master Printers of Zimbabwe (FMPZ) and the Zimbabwe Graphical Workers Union (ZGWU).
‎
Registrar of labour unions Lilford Nhandara from the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, praised the sector for taking the initiative to address critical issues affecting the world of work.
‎”Workshops like this one provide a vital platform for constructive dialogue between employers, employees, and regulators. It is commendable that this sector has come together to reflect on the challenges, explore opportunities, and forge a shared vision for sustainable growth,” he said.
Nhandara said the printing and packaging industry, once a cornerstone of the manufacturing sector in Zimbabwe, is undergoing rapid transformation amid technological disruption, economic pressures, and the informalisation of operations.
‎He noted with concern that several challenges such as rising production costs and foreign currency shortages continue to strain formal businesses, technological disruption, including the rise of digital media, e-books, and online advertising, which has reduced demand for traditional printing, threatening jobs and necessitating urgent reskilling.
Informalisation of the sector was also on the rise, with small-scale, unregulated operators undercutting formal businesses while often flouting labour and safety standards, he said.
‎Non-compliance with labour laws, including failure to observe occupational health regulations and registering employment councils also remain a significant concern, said Nhandara.
‎Despite these hurdles, Nhandara emphasized the need for solution-oriented collaboration in the future.
‎”We must not only diagnose problems but chart practical solutions. Compliance must be embraced as a culture of good corporate citizenship, not merely as a regulatory obligation,” he said.
‎The deliberations come at a critical juncture as Zimbabwe transitions from the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) to NDS2, a roadmap aimed at propelling the country to an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
‎Nhandara drew direct links between the objectives of the workshop and national priorities such as economic growth and stability, by strengthening a key manufacturing sector, good governance and social protection, through enhanced compliance and protection of workers’ rights.
‎The Ministry proposed several concrete pathways to rejuvenate the sector, chief among them strengthening compliance and enforcement whereby employers should adhere to the Labour Act, collective bargaining agreements, and occupational safety regulations, capacity building and reskilling.
In response to digital disruption, industry players were urged to partner with training institutions to equip workers with skills in digital printing, graphic design, and packaging technologies among others.
‎”This workshop is a timely and necessary exercise in collective reflection, problem-solving, and planning. Together, we can build a resilient, innovative industry aligned with our national vision for prosperity,” said Nhandara.
New Ziana
