Woman withdraws maternity leave challenge

Ms Emelda Mhuriro who was contesting the constitutionality of a labour law that denies newly-employed women of less than one year service from enjoying their right to fully-paid maternity leave has been withdrawn from the Constitutional Court. She said she had learnt that the ongoing process of realigning the laws with the Constitution would address her concerns.

In a letter written to the Constitutional Court, Mhuriro’s lawyer, Caleb Mucheche said his client was confident that her worries will be addressed in the proposed amendments to the Labour Act. In the letter Mucheche writes,

Our client instructs us that her decision to withdraw her case was inspired by the fact that she is privy to the on-going and advanced tripartite negotiations for major composite amendments to the Labour Act and other labour laws being done by Government, employers and labour, which will result in a Labour Amendment Bill being tabled before Parliament soon so that it can be seized with the matter.

The withdrawal came at a time when the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights had filed a chamber application to join the proceedings as amicus curiae (friend of the court).

More: Herald