MASVINGO - The struggling power utility, Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) has failed to pay contract workers for almost three months.
The irate workers told The Zimbabwean that they have not received any payment since they were hired in January. Some of the workers said they signed their contracts for five months but these were then prematurely terminated in April without any salary being paid.
We have engaged the management on the issue but nothing tangible has come of the discussion. They are just telling us that the company did not have enough funds, one of the affected workers said. The workers said they have since taken the matter to the Ministry of Labour but Zesa officials are reported to have failed to turn up to the hearing scheduled for last month.
We are struggling because we need money to fend for our families. The officials are dragging their feet. They are always
shifting the goal posts and we will take action soon if the matter is not addressed, said another worker, who was evicted
from his lodgings due to unpaid rent. Zesas Masvingo Human Resources Manager, only identified as Chikwezvere, refused to comment and referred all the correspondence to the headquarters in Harare.
An official from Harare, who declined to be named, confirmed that the company had not paid contract workers around the country due to its bureaucratic payment process. All contract workers sign their claim forms which are then sent here
for processing. The process is so long and there is need to change the format so that they are paid at their respective stations, the official said.
Post published in: Economy