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Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
ZIMBABWEANS should opt for unpaid overtime in their respective industries to increase productivity and avoid retrenchments, the Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, has said.

He said this would ensure maximum productivity and reduce retrenchments as working overtime will guarantee salaries for workers.

Officially opening the Institute of People’s Management of Zimbabwe (IPMZ) 2016 annual convention here, Adv Mudenda also said human resources managers and company directors must create an environment for their subordinates’ to be motivated to do their jobs beyond the attraction of wages.

“Because of the current challenges industry is facing, such as limited capacity to offer competitive salaries matching or above the poverty datum line, as well as late payment of salaries, it becomes critically important for shop floor employees, managers and directors to be imbued with a sense of empathy with a spirit of togetherness even to the extent of wanting to work overtime for no extra remuneration in order to increase and avoid retrenchments,” he said.

Adv Mudenda challenged workers to have a “sense of creative social responsibility.”

He bemoaned the prevalence of nepotism and tribalism in some companies.

“Any industrial activity which fails to factor in the dignity of work is likely to result in an alienated and demotivated workforce with a negative impact on productivity. The corporate family at work should therefore cherish the dignity of work as a salutary.”

Adv Mudenda later told The Chronicle after the address that working overtime was a better option for workers to avoid being retrenched.

“It’s better for workers to consider working overtime than be retrenched. It’s better to work overtime and get your full normal salary because the industry will have increased productivity than to refuse to work and get laid off because there is no money,” he said.

Adv Mudenda’s suggestion comes at a time when some companies have closed while others are retrenching workers.

The IPMZ conference started on Wednesday and ends today under the theme, “Igniting human resources in the changing environs-evolve, transform and add value.”

Human resources managers from different companies in the private and public sector countrywide are attending.