The revelations emerged this week when the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Construction and Allied Workers’ Union, Muchapiwa Mazarura, appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Labour.
According to an interview with Mazarura after his parliamentary appearance, Chinese firms are said to be underpaying workers and forcing them to work overtime without extra payment.
Mazarura said Chinese businessmen were not providing workers with adequate safety clothing.
“We would like to warn Chinese contractors operating in Zimbabwe that if they do not follow the laid-down laws, the union is going to take strong action against them,” said Mazarura.
He said members had complained of “gross violation of labour laws”, and called on Zimbabwean government ministries to ensure Chinese companies complied with the law.
“When the Chinese donate funds for projects and development to the government, they should be reminded that our government does not donate human resources in return,” Mazarura said.
Last month a group of rowdy Chinese construction workers bashed a local labourer at a construction site of a multimillion shopping mall and hotel outside Harare. The Chinese construction workers proceeded to beat up policemen who came to investigate the assault case, claiming they were protected by powerful politicians in the country.
According to Geoffrey Crothall, a spokesperson for the Hong Kong-based pressure group, China Labour Bulletin, Chinese companies were “exporting their domestic management style” to Africa.
Ge Yizhong, the Deputy General Manager of Zim Nantong Construction Company, said his company carefully toed Zimbabwe’s operational laws in construction industry.
“There is no ill treatment of workers at my company; we have adjusted working hours to meet workers’ demands. We have raised their pay twice since last year,” said Yizhong.
Early this year Chinese construction companies were castigated in parliament for ill-treating workers and underpaying them.
Post published in: News