Government contractors warned against dishonesty

The Zimbabwe Construction and Allied Trades Workers Union (ZCATWU) has called on government contractors to stop abusing delayed payments from the Treasury as a justification for poor performance and disruptions in the construction industry.

This comes in response to recent concerns raised by the Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association (ZBCA), which sounded the alarm over Treasury payment delays choking operations within the sector.

ZCATWU General Secretary, Nicholas Mazarura, speaking on Tuesday, criticized contractors for exaggerating the impact of payment delays and warned that some contractors not even engaged in government projects are exploiting the situation to avoid meeting their obligations.

"We want to clarify that while there are challenges affecting a handful of employers linked to government contracts, it is misleading to suggest that the entire construction industry is grappling with the same issues," Mazarura said.

He emphasized that such misleading narratives disrupt industry harmony and undermine collective bargaining efforts.

Mazarura revealed that wage and salary negotiations have stalled for over a year because some employers, including those not contracted by government, hide behind the issue of late payments to avoid wage increases.

"During negotiations, we are often told government is not paying contractors, yet there are companies operating independently who are simply refusing to pay or increase wages, citing government payment delays as an excuse," he explained.

The union insists the construction sector has the financial capacity to pay fair wages and called on contractor representatives to encourage all employers, especially those outside government contracts, to engage constructively through their Works Council platforms alongside the National Employment Council (NEC).

Mazarura further condemned employers for leaving workers in poverty despite the sector's ability to meet wage demands.

"We have foreign companies running businesses who refuse to increase wages, citing government contract issues," he added.

He also warned against the abuse of Statutory Instrument 45 of 2013, which allows employers and employees to waive wage requirements under specific conditions. Employers seeking exemption from paying gazetted wages are misusing this provision, deepening challenges in the sector.

ZCATWU's statement calls for accountability and fairness, urging contractors to prioritize workers' welfare and maintain integrity in negotiations as the industry seeks sustainable growth.