The President of the Zimbabwe Diamonds and Allied Workers’ Union, Cosmas Sunguro, said:
“Workers were sent on forced holiday for two days as the Chinese said they were celebrating the Year of the Dragon. When they came back from the mandatory holiday, the workers were told that they were not going to be paid for the two days they were on holiday.
“In Zimbabwe we have freedom of worship and it is unacceptable to have a certain culture being imposed on you. To make matters worse, some of the workers told us that a Monk that came from China was sprinkling some waters on them as part of the Chinese tradition,” he added.
Sunguro said workers at the Chinese firm were afraid to raise the issue with management as fear of dismissal was deeply embedded in the workers most of whom are on contracts ranging from three to six months.
In July last year, Anjin suspended more than 1,500 workers and seven members of the worker’s committee who had gone on strike demanding better salaries and working conditions. Contacted for comment Anjin Human Resources Manager, Lindiwe Ngwenya said: “I do not have workers.” She immediately switched off her phone making efforts to re-engage with her fruitless.
Post published in: News