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Paper short abstract:

Building upon the concept of inequality regime, this research was an analysis of gendered experiences from the perspective and experiences of women iwho are suffering from exploitation, discrimination, marginalization, and harassment in the struggle for survival.

Paper long abstract:

This article investigates the challenges faced by women workers within the wood-processing enterprises in Zimbabwe, the challenges which are caused by the legitimised, taken for granted practices and policies which are gendered. The qualitative research approach was used in deconstructing the experiences and feelings from the perspective of employees. Through open ended interviews administered to 40 purposively selected participants, the findings reveal that some HR practices like recruitment and selection, training, promotion, reward management and termination of employment are the breeding sources of producing and reproducing gendered inequalities. Women are unfairly treated in disciplinary cases, and they are subject to low wages, compromised work-life balance, precarious employment, illegal hours, non-payment of overtime and unfair dismissals influenced by some sexual interests by male superiors. All these are forces against section 65 of the Zimbabwean Constitution and the part 11, part 111 of the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01]. To address this, the research suggest that HR practitioners need to admonish unfair labour practices through sound legal advice to employers regarding labour laws and labour boards such as NEC, and Trade Unions should play an active role in denouncing indecent work practices in the industry. The female workers need to also endure, be strong enough to defend their fundamental rights through collaborative dialogue and be part of the worker’s committee. The women remain key assets in the wood-processing industry hence the need to fight against misconceptions and stereotyping against the impact they have to the Zimbabwean economy.