AMH employees receive zero earnings after salary cuts and forced leave

Some employees at Alpha Media Holdings (AMH), one of Zimbabwe's leading private media companies, have received zero net earnings in the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) component of their salaries for two consecutive months, after their salaries were halved and severe deductions were applied - leaving many workers effectively indebted to the company.

AMH, which owns NewsDay, The Standard, The Zimbabwe Independent, and Heart & Soul TV and Radio, has recently implemented a controversial policy forcing employees, mostly journalists, to work only two weeks per month. The other two weeks are classified as unpaid forced leave.

While workers' payslips officially reflect earnings in ZiG, the US dollar (USD) component of their salaries is paid in cash and not documented. This off-the-record payment method has raised concerns, as the USD portion can be withheld arbitrarily without accountability.

The two-weeks-on, two-weeks-off system began in March. In April, some workers received zero net pay in ZiG and only partial or no USD payments. One worker revealed that some colleagues received less than USD 100 for September 2024, while others received nothing at all.

"This situation has worsened our lives," said a disgruntled employee. "The company has completely abandoned us. We're struggling to explain ourselves to landlords, especially those of us who don't own homes."

Workers also reported being given meagre allowances. "Last week, many of us were given ZiG 800 as 'transport money,' but the management doesn't seem to care where we're coming from, what we're eating, or how we pay bills or school fees," said another employee.

Employees say labour and human rights violations at AMH have escalated. "The management has lost all compassion," said one worker. "It's as if we are not even human anymore. If you complain, they just say, 'Whoever feels mistreated should leave.'"

One employee expressed frustration over management priorities, alleging that executives are spending company funds on leisure activities such as golf, while workers go unpaid.

"When someone who has served the company for years earns nothing for two months and management shows no concern for how that person survives, that's barbaric," the employee added.

"We are desperate and don't know who to turn to for help. This is beyond a financial crisis - it's a deliberate move to frustrate workers into resigning without terminal benefits. We've appealed to management several times, but they've ignored us. Now we appeal to the government and President Emmerson Mnangagwa to intervene in these gross labour violations."

Some employees say they now arrive home late at night to avoid confronting landlords, and many feel humiliated within their communities due to the hardship.

Recently, the company hosted a "Gold Games" event in Bulawayo, which workers claim diverted funds that could have been used for salaries.

"As April ended, some workers earned nothing at all, while others received less than ZiG 3,000 and under USD 100. What can anyone do with that?" asked one employee.