News / Local
NRZ to sack 2000 workers, no terminal benefits-report
02 Apr 2017 at 23:19hrs | Views
Panic has gripped troubled National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) workers amid reports the firm is planning to chop 2 000 workers.
The affected would go home without terminal benefits.
According to NewsDay, the massive job cuts were expected to have taken effect starting March 31.
"We are being told that the parastatal wants to retrench over 2 000 of its workforce with effect from March 31. This is a very sad scenario," a concerned worker said as quoted by the publication.
"We are told people will be sent home without packages, especially those who have not yet reached pensionable age. They will go with only their pay notices."
NRZ spokesperson Nyasha Maravanyika urged workers to remain calm, as the matter was still at board level.
"That issue is being handled at board level, so it's at policy level. We understand the board is seized with that kind of discussion and no worker has been told that he or she will lose his or her job," Maravanyika said.
The broke parastatal, has since turned to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) and Finance ministry to get funding for the retrenchment process which could cost close to $100 million.
NRZ is looking for close to $700 million to recapitalise, refurbish the railway track and locomotives some of which need to be replaced in an effort to turnaround the fortunes of the company.
Recently board chairman Larry Mavhima said the move was aimed at stopping the bleeding at the parastatal.
Mavhima said the job cuts would allow the stricken parastatal to maintain a manageable workforce for operational efficiencies.
The affected would go home without terminal benefits.
According to NewsDay, the massive job cuts were expected to have taken effect starting March 31.
"We are being told that the parastatal wants to retrench over 2 000 of its workforce with effect from March 31. This is a very sad scenario," a concerned worker said as quoted by the publication.
"We are told people will be sent home without packages, especially those who have not yet reached pensionable age. They will go with only their pay notices."
NRZ spokesperson Nyasha Maravanyika urged workers to remain calm, as the matter was still at board level.
"That issue is being handled at board level, so it's at policy level. We understand the board is seized with that kind of discussion and no worker has been told that he or she will lose his or her job," Maravanyika said.
The broke parastatal, has since turned to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) and Finance ministry to get funding for the retrenchment process which could cost close to $100 million.
NRZ is looking for close to $700 million to recapitalise, refurbish the railway track and locomotives some of which need to be replaced in an effort to turnaround the fortunes of the company.
Recently board chairman Larry Mavhima said the move was aimed at stopping the bleeding at the parastatal.
Mavhima said the job cuts would allow the stricken parastatal to maintain a manageable workforce for operational efficiencies.
Source - NewsDay,Byo24News
