News / Regional
Obert Mpofu's company ordered to pay fired worker $12,000
20 Oct 2015 at 06:40hrs | Views
A COURT has ordered Khanondo Safaris and Tours owned by Macro-economic Planning and Investment Promotion Minister Obert Mpofu to pay a former worker $12,000 for unfair dismissal.
The worker, Forward Mutero, approached the Labour Court seeking to be paid terminal benefits after unfair dismissal on October 3, 2013. Khanondo Safaris lost the labour case in a judgement delivered by Bulawayo Labour Court president Mercy Moya-Matshanga on Friday. The Labour Court is on circuit in Hwange.
"The respondent is ordered to pay the appellant back-pay at a rate of $669 for 12 months from September 2013 to September 2014," said Moya-Matshanga. The order also compels the Victoria Falls-based company with interests in tours and transfers and accommodation, to pay Mutero damages in lieu of reinstatement and cash in lieu of leave.
The total amount is $12,042 and it is to be paid in monthly instalments of $4,014 by consent of the two parties."Instalments of $4,014 are to be paid through Messrs. Ncube and Partners Trust account," said the Labour Court judge.
There was no order as to the costs.
Zibusiso Ncube represented Mutero while P Butshe from Labour Practice represented Khanondo Safaris. Mutero initially demanded $15,200 excluding cash in lieu of leave of $9,600 and damages equivalent to 12 months. The applicant was dismissed from work in 2013 and he contested his dismissal.
On September 24, 2014 an arbitrator ordered the company to either reinstate Mutero or agree with him on damages. The court heard the two parties failed to agree on the quantum of damages to be paid hence Mutero made the application to the Labour Court. The company on a number of occasions ignored applications made against it resulting in the Labour Court barring it from finding alternatives to deal with the matter, so that it can only be heard at the Labour Court.
The worker, Forward Mutero, approached the Labour Court seeking to be paid terminal benefits after unfair dismissal on October 3, 2013. Khanondo Safaris lost the labour case in a judgement delivered by Bulawayo Labour Court president Mercy Moya-Matshanga on Friday. The Labour Court is on circuit in Hwange.
"The respondent is ordered to pay the appellant back-pay at a rate of $669 for 12 months from September 2013 to September 2014," said Moya-Matshanga. The order also compels the Victoria Falls-based company with interests in tours and transfers and accommodation, to pay Mutero damages in lieu of reinstatement and cash in lieu of leave.
The total amount is $12,042 and it is to be paid in monthly instalments of $4,014 by consent of the two parties."Instalments of $4,014 are to be paid through Messrs. Ncube and Partners Trust account," said the Labour Court judge.
There was no order as to the costs.
Zibusiso Ncube represented Mutero while P Butshe from Labour Practice represented Khanondo Safaris. Mutero initially demanded $15,200 excluding cash in lieu of leave of $9,600 and damages equivalent to 12 months. The applicant was dismissed from work in 2013 and he contested his dismissal.
On September 24, 2014 an arbitrator ordered the company to either reinstate Mutero or agree with him on damages. The court heard the two parties failed to agree on the quantum of damages to be paid hence Mutero made the application to the Labour Court. The company on a number of occasions ignored applications made against it resulting in the Labour Court barring it from finding alternatives to deal with the matter, so that it can only be heard at the Labour Court.
Source - chronicle
