News / National
Zvishavane pays women less than male counterparts
14 Jun 2015 at 11:23hrs | Views
TWENTY women have dragged Zvishavane Town Council to court over unfair labour practice after they were allegedly paid less salaries and wages compared to their male counterparts of the same grade.
The town council is being sued for contravening Section 8 of the Labour Act which demands employers to pay equal wages to any employee regardless of their sex, gender, race, nationality or religion.
The matter was once brought before an arbitrator who awarded the women $156 465,35. The women took the council to court after it failed to honour the award.
Through their lawyer, Sifakazile Mguni of R Ndlovu and Company, the women indicated that their salaries were not equal to that of male employees in the same grade, as "council was paying women $50 per month even after they were integrated as permanent employees. Rendered services to the council beyond the three months as the contracts were open ended."
The lawyer dismissed the council position that the women were working on a voluntary basis because "the contracts which they were given were signed by section heads, department heads and the human resources department representing the council".
The 21 women were employed by the health services department to pick litter on the streets of Zvishavane. Male employees of the same grade earn $250.
However, the council through Dube-Tachiona and Tsvangirai Legal Practitioners argued that the women "confessed conciliation that they would receive a token of appreciation and not a salary that they would be made to sign schedule of payment of a token upon receipt".
The council further indicates that these women were not their permanent employees but "were merely voluntary employees". Bulawayo High Court Judge Justice Maxwell Takuva ordered the matter back to the arbitrator before indicating that the award that was once given be set aside.
"The matter of unfair labour practice for alleged underpayment of wages filed by 1st and 2nd respondents be referred back to the Ministry of Labour for re-allocation before a different arbitrator for the arbitration hearing, upon service of new notification of hearing, with a new set down date on the applicant and 1st and second respondents," said Justice Takuva.
The town council is being sued for contravening Section 8 of the Labour Act which demands employers to pay equal wages to any employee regardless of their sex, gender, race, nationality or religion.
The matter was once brought before an arbitrator who awarded the women $156 465,35. The women took the council to court after it failed to honour the award.
Through their lawyer, Sifakazile Mguni of R Ndlovu and Company, the women indicated that their salaries were not equal to that of male employees in the same grade, as "council was paying women $50 per month even after they were integrated as permanent employees. Rendered services to the council beyond the three months as the contracts were open ended."
The lawyer dismissed the council position that the women were working on a voluntary basis because "the contracts which they were given were signed by section heads, department heads and the human resources department representing the council".
The 21 women were employed by the health services department to pick litter on the streets of Zvishavane. Male employees of the same grade earn $250.
However, the council through Dube-Tachiona and Tsvangirai Legal Practitioners argued that the women "confessed conciliation that they would receive a token of appreciation and not a salary that they would be made to sign schedule of payment of a token upon receipt".
The council further indicates that these women were not their permanent employees but "were merely voluntary employees". Bulawayo High Court Judge Justice Maxwell Takuva ordered the matter back to the arbitrator before indicating that the award that was once given be set aside.
"The matter of unfair labour practice for alleged underpayment of wages filed by 1st and 2nd respondents be referred back to the Ministry of Labour for re-allocation before a different arbitrator for the arbitration hearing, upon service of new notification of hearing, with a new set down date on the applicant and 1st and second respondents," said Justice Takuva.
Source - Sunday News
