Business / Companies
Bulawayo companies fail to pay workers in full
20 Dec 2011 at 15:27hrs | Views
HUNDREDS of workers from Bulawayo companies are facing a bleak Christmas and New Year's holiday as their employers have failed to pay them their full salaries, the Chronicle reported.
Some of the workers are owed salaries that date back to 2009 when the country introduced the multiple currency system.
The workers who spoke to Chronicle in separate interviews yesterday expressed frustration over the issue and called for Government intervention.
Drawn from different sections of industry such as the hospitality, transport, security, engineering and manufacturing, the visibly disgruntled workers accused their employers of being indifferent to their plight.
They said companies were taking advantage of the economic situation in the country to exploit them.
"The situation for workers is terrible. We are going for Christmas this weekend but I have nothing to take home," said Mr Earnest Ncube from a local engineering company.
"The company owes us more than $1 000 each but we were told there is no money. We were only given $23 when we shut down for the festive season instead of our monthly $150."
A worker from a security company who declined to be named said he was getting $20 for the past three months.
"I have not received my full salary for the past two months. I stopped going to work when the company gave me $20 as salary for November, which I refused. Until today I have not been paid. I have decided to take my case to the labour court," said the worker.
"As it is I am stranded. I have two children and a wife but I have not paid rent and the landlord is threatening to evict me. I am now surviving on handouts from relatives and friends."
The workers complained that they have not been given a bonus despite the fact their wages were far below the Poverty Datum Line (PDL), which is estimated to be around $540.
Some said they were victimised by employers for demanding to be paid on time. They also said they had lost faith in arbitration procedures and accused the labour bodies of letting them down.
"Our national employment councils (NECs) are a disappointment. Despite the fact that we contribute money to them every month, they are virtually doing nothing to protect us," fumed a worker from a mining company.
"I worked for this company for five years but was dismissed under unclear circumstances in October without any benefits. I took my case to the NEC but they have not done anything to help me."
Others called for the transfer of magistrates and judges who preside over their cases, accusing them of taking sides with their "oppressors".
"We expect these bodies to protect us and punish our employers. Instead they allow these companies to exploit us. NECs have now become agents of employers against workers. We suspect that some of them are bribed to do that and we are not happy with it," fumed a worker from a leather company.
Contacted for comment Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) Bulawayo provincial secretary Cde Pardon Mangena said the workers were in a difficult period.
"We are very bitter that employers, despite making promises to pay workers' salaries in full, are failing to do so. Some of the wages date back to 2009. The year 2011 has been the worst year for workers. Our offices are overwhelmed by workers who approach us over salary disputes with employers," said Cde Mangena.
"There is no Christmas or New Year to talk about for workers. We can complain of company closures in the city but for us workers they closed in 2009 because workers have not been paid in full from that time."
Cde Mangena also attacked NECs and the labour court, saying the bodies had failed to address the workers' grievances.
"With all due respect we blame the labour court for failing to deal with labour disputes promptly. They are too friendly to the companies and as a result some cases remain pending for more than two years and that does not bring happiness to the affected worker."
Cde Mangena called on the Government to expedite the disbursement of the $40 million for the revival of companies, saying the fund would improve company operations and improve workers' welfare.
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) western region officer, Mr Percy Mcijo, although admitting that companies were facing operational challenges, said most of them were exploiting workers deliberately.
He said some of the workers were forced to retire because of the negative working conditions.
Mr Mcijo said ZCTU had come up with labour reforms that sought to quicken the pace with which labour disputes were handled.
"Our legal system is not biting enough. As workers we are not protected and as such some companies get away with it. We have, however, come up with labour reforms that seek to address shortcomings in the handling of labour disputes such as indiscriminate dismissal of workers," he said.
The Minister of Labour and Social Services, Paurina Mpariwa, declined to comment on the issue, saying such problems had not been brought to her attention.
"I need more information about that issue before I comment. I need specific companies and detail on how long they have been doing that otherwise the matter has not been brought to my attention," said Minister Mpariwa.
Some of the workers are owed salaries that date back to 2009 when the country introduced the multiple currency system.
The workers who spoke to Chronicle in separate interviews yesterday expressed frustration over the issue and called for Government intervention.
Drawn from different sections of industry such as the hospitality, transport, security, engineering and manufacturing, the visibly disgruntled workers accused their employers of being indifferent to their plight.
They said companies were taking advantage of the economic situation in the country to exploit them.
"The situation for workers is terrible. We are going for Christmas this weekend but I have nothing to take home," said Mr Earnest Ncube from a local engineering company.
"The company owes us more than $1 000 each but we were told there is no money. We were only given $23 when we shut down for the festive season instead of our monthly $150."
A worker from a security company who declined to be named said he was getting $20 for the past three months.
"I have not received my full salary for the past two months. I stopped going to work when the company gave me $20 as salary for November, which I refused. Until today I have not been paid. I have decided to take my case to the labour court," said the worker.
"As it is I am stranded. I have two children and a wife but I have not paid rent and the landlord is threatening to evict me. I am now surviving on handouts from relatives and friends."
The workers complained that they have not been given a bonus despite the fact their wages were far below the Poverty Datum Line (PDL), which is estimated to be around $540.
Some said they were victimised by employers for demanding to be paid on time. They also said they had lost faith in arbitration procedures and accused the labour bodies of letting them down.
"Our national employment councils (NECs) are a disappointment. Despite the fact that we contribute money to them every month, they are virtually doing nothing to protect us," fumed a worker from a mining company.
"I worked for this company for five years but was dismissed under unclear circumstances in October without any benefits. I took my case to the NEC but they have not done anything to help me."
Others called for the transfer of magistrates and judges who preside over their cases, accusing them of taking sides with their "oppressors".
"We expect these bodies to protect us and punish our employers. Instead they allow these companies to exploit us. NECs have now become agents of employers against workers. We suspect that some of them are bribed to do that and we are not happy with it," fumed a worker from a leather company.
Contacted for comment Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions (ZFTU) Bulawayo provincial secretary Cde Pardon Mangena said the workers were in a difficult period.
"We are very bitter that employers, despite making promises to pay workers' salaries in full, are failing to do so. Some of the wages date back to 2009. The year 2011 has been the worst year for workers. Our offices are overwhelmed by workers who approach us over salary disputes with employers," said Cde Mangena.
"There is no Christmas or New Year to talk about for workers. We can complain of company closures in the city but for us workers they closed in 2009 because workers have not been paid in full from that time."
Cde Mangena also attacked NECs and the labour court, saying the bodies had failed to address the workers' grievances.
"With all due respect we blame the labour court for failing to deal with labour disputes promptly. They are too friendly to the companies and as a result some cases remain pending for more than two years and that does not bring happiness to the affected worker."
Cde Mangena called on the Government to expedite the disbursement of the $40 million for the revival of companies, saying the fund would improve company operations and improve workers' welfare.
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) western region officer, Mr Percy Mcijo, although admitting that companies were facing operational challenges, said most of them were exploiting workers deliberately.
He said some of the workers were forced to retire because of the negative working conditions.
Mr Mcijo said ZCTU had come up with labour reforms that sought to quicken the pace with which labour disputes were handled.
"Our legal system is not biting enough. As workers we are not protected and as such some companies get away with it. We have, however, come up with labour reforms that seek to address shortcomings in the handling of labour disputes such as indiscriminate dismissal of workers," he said.
The Minister of Labour and Social Services, Paurina Mpariwa, declined to comment on the issue, saying such problems had not been brought to her attention.
"I need more information about that issue before I comment. I need specific companies and detail on how long they have been doing that otherwise the matter has not been brought to my attention," said Minister Mpariwa.
Source - Chronicle
