adminsuddenly changed when they arrived in that country.
Lawrence Marimo, Shingai Siraha, Fibeon Shumbayawonda, Lovemore Chimbadzo and Elvis Phiri have since been awarded damages totalling US$17 575 by an arbitrator against a local company, Costam Trading, which recruited them.
The arbitrator, Ms Monica Vimbayi Hanga, also awarded the five a Zimdollar component of $54 million for the period between November 2008 and January 2009 when they were recruited before the introduction of multi-currencies.
Costam Trading recruited the five in November 2008, promising them lucrative contracts with an Angolan company, Gindungo Commercio GeralLda.
But when they arrived there in April 2009, officials at Gindungo Commercio Geral Lda did not honour what the workers were promised by Costam Trading.
Costam Trading is contesting paying the damages, arguing that they were not the employers as they only facilitated for the five to get the jobs.
The appeal is set for hearing on September 19 at the Labour Court.
The five include an auto and motor mechanic, a welder and steel fabricator, a driver and a projects manager.
They said they were told that the Angolan company did not have specific professional jobs for them when they were already at the work site.
They had been promised salaries above US$1 500 per month, but on arrival in Angola, they were told that they would be paid US$400 and US$50 overtime.
“The applicants further elaborated on the hardships they encountered, which included failure to communicate with the locals for assistance, as well as receiving rotten food from their employer,” said Ms Hanga in her judgment.
“The applicants submitted that their employer did not allow them to leave the work premises.”
The five had responded to an advert for employment that had been flighted by Costam Trading through posters, which sought suitably qualified people to work in Angola.
They were told that they were among the successful candidates and were asked to submit their passports for application for work permits.
“The applicants further submitted that Costam Trading later gave them back their passports with ordinary visitors’ visas and not work permits as previously promised,” said Ms Hanga.
“Upon inquiring, the applicants submitted that they were informed that they would apply for work permits in Angola.”
The five were also surprised to discover that there was no decent accommodation for them, except temporary structures at the work site. They said this was contrary to promises made by Gindungo
Commercio Geral Lda officials that everything was in order and that they would be provided with accommodation, blankets and food.
“Two applicants had to sneak out of the premises to seek assistance with the Zimbabwe Embassy in Angola concerning their dispute and living conditions,” said Ms Hanga.
The Zimbabwe Embassy then wrote to the company, resulting in it purchasing air tickets to facilitate the return of the five.
Ms Hanga argued that Costam Trading was liable to paying the damages since it had played a major role in the recruitment and went on to remunerate the five while they waited to travel to Angola.
The firm gave them 5kgs of mealie-meal each in February 2009 as acknowledgment that they were going through difficult times while waiting for the processing of their work permits.
Ms Hanga said Costam Trading was not duly licenced to practise as an employment agent in Zimbabwe, so it had proceeded to assume responsibility for the five as an employer.
Online Reporter