ZFTU Matabeleland region organising secretary, Pardon Mangena, said a number of Bulawayo-based companies were either re-locating to Harare or shutting down their operations without paying their workers outstanding salaries.
As a union representing workers we have noticed that the issue of shutting down operations or relocation is impacting negatively on employees. We have discovered that most of these companies relocate to other places without paying outstanding dues to their workers.
Even if the employees take them to court it doesnt work because there is no stipulated timeframe compelling employers to honour workers. We are therefore urging labour courts and arbitrators to at least delimit issues of time that will compel the employers to meet their obligations if the verdict would be in favour of workers, he said.
Mangena also challenged the government to look into the issue of relocation of companies saying it was accelerating high unemployment rates, further stating that it was unfortunate that some of the companies that were re-locating or shutting down operations were resurfacing mainly in Harare, thus leaving other regions de-industrialised.
It is quite disturbing and frustrating that most companies that are relocating cite problems of raw materials. The question is why did they establish themselves in those regions in the first place? he said.
Mangena urged employees to take advantage of the indigenisation drive to set up their own companies saying it was a move meant to empower the general populace.
Post published in: News