No pay, no bonus, no hope: AMH workers' bleak festive season

Workers at Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) are facing a bleak festive season after going for a full year without salaries and receiving no bonuses, despite working throughout 2024 under severe financial strain.

Last week, human resources manager Jacob Sukali assured staff that salaries would be paid before the company closed for the holidays. However, management went on leave on Friday without fulfilling the promise, leaving workers devastated.

Employees said they were shocked and heartbroken to learn they would go into Christmas with nothing to support their families.

"In all this, journalists are still expected to work during the holidays even though we have not been paid," said one worker.

"Our festive season has been soiled. Management is selfish and heartless. We soldiered on the whole year without proper pay, and instead of rewarding our resilience, they gave us nothing. Other companies are paying bonuses, but here we get no bonus and no salary," another employee said.

Some journalists said they may not work during the holidays or even after, if the situation does not change.

Meanwhile, journalists and marketing staff have taken the company to arbitration over outstanding salaries and benefits. This follows the postponement of November salaries, despite several months already in arrears.

Sukali had earlier notified workers that payments would begin in the week starting 8 December, but this did not happen.  

Forty‑six workers, represented by the Zimbabwe Graphic Workers Union, have filed claims with a Harare arbitrator demanding overdue salaries. In their submissions, they cited Zimind Publishers as the respondent. The matter will be heard next year.

The workers argue they have not been paid since September 2024. They said despite meetings, correspondence and NEC intervention, the company has "failed, refused and/or neglected" to honour its obligations.

They rejected a proposed six‑month payment plan that would see 2024 arrears cleared only in 2026, calling it unreasonable and unjust.

"It is inconceivable that workers who have rendered service can be expected to wait until 2026 for salaries due for 2024," the workers submitted.

They said the employer had agreed before the NEC to settle arrears in three instalments between 31 October and 31 December 2025 while paying current salaries concurrently, but was now departing from that agreement.

The workers argue that AMH is in breach of the Labour Act, which obliges employers to pay salaries on time and criminalises unreasonable delays. They also accuse the company of unjust enrichment, saying it benefited from their labour while refusing to pay for it.

They are demanding that all outstanding salaries be paid by 31 December 2025.

In a response dated 4 December, Sukali conceded liability for seven months of arrears for 2025, covering 50 percent of basic salaries and certain allowances. He said the company has continued partial payments and is confident in its recovery plan.

He said AMH expects a government allocation of more than US$400,000 and is selling non‑core assets to raise funds. The company proposes clearing all arrears by 30 June 2026.

Sukali argued that immediate payment would cripple operations and threaten jobs. He said due diligence and asset valuations are underway, and that the company will update the Works Council monthly.

AMH is seeking approval to settle arrears progressively until June 2026, with a commitment to reconvene if any balances remain.