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MORE than 5 000 workers in the construction sector face a bleak future upon retirement as their employers are failing to remit pension contributions deducted from their wages.
Construction and Allied Workers’ Union general secretary Mr Nicholas Mazarura said employers have refused to remit employers’ and workers’ pension contributions despite the unions’ spirited efforts.
“Employers owe more than US$2 million in unremitted pensions and some of the companies’ representatives sit in National Employment Council meetings where we sit and negotiate for workers conditions of services as employers and workers.
“The workers have faith in them yet they are not trustworthy as they are supposed to be.
“As a union we are calling on all employers within our sector to pay up outstanding pensions or else we will not sit and negotiate on anything with them,” he said.
Mr Mazarura said the main culprits were employers who belong to Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association and Construction Industry Federation of Zimbabwe.
“When workers retire and realise that they do not have pensions, they first call on the union to enquire why they are failing to access their pension only to realise that their pensions which was deducted by employers were not remitted to the relevant channels but was misused.
“This is total abuse because a worker would have gone home without some money hoping it would take care of him or her upon retirement only to find it was never the case.
“This pension scheme was established in 1983 and is titled Construction Industry Pension Fund.
“Employers and employees contribute on a compulsory basis 5 percent apiece towards the pension fund.
“As a union, we have since resolved to report the issue to the Insurance and Pensions Commission so that the companies will be forced by law to remit what they deduct from the workers,” he added.
Online Reporter