WORKERS GONE FOR YEARS WITHOUT RECEIVING THEIR SALARIES

Workers have gone for years without receiving their salaries; for example NRZ, this is violation of human rights, there is need for change.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions secretary-general, Mr Japhet Moyo, told Business Chronicle that some of the workers through their unions affiliated to the ZCTU have expressed concern that they have gone for years without receiving salaries.

He said the workers also alleged that some of their employers were being placed under judicial management for fake reasons.

“The workers are eager to continue with company litigations despite the implications the move will impact on the economy. We have received reports from some workers through our affiliates that there are some who have gone for between one and two years without receiving salaries.

They have resolved that the litigations should continue because non-payment of salaries is misconduct on part of the employer.

“When a company is faced with litigation it means it will be forced to sell its assets in order to settle outstanding salaries and this may lead to more job losses and company closures,” he said.

He said ZCTU wrote a circular to its affiliates seeking confirmation of issues affecting the workers.

Mr Moyo said non-payment of salaries by some employers and the issues of contract employment for a longer period are some of the grievances that the workers tabled.

The Labour Act stipulates that an employee should not be engaged as a contract worker for a period exceeding six months.

“We have received cases where some employers are said to have hired workers on contract for more than four years. And when the employment contract is not renewed or terminated, the worker does not get any benefits; he or she is only paid a salary for that month when the contract was terminated,” he said.

He said some of the disputes have been taken for arbitration with the workers receiving “significant” arbitrary awards.

“As unions we will continue pressing for the implementation of those awards despite the appeal by some employers,” said Mr Moyo.