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AT least 21 workers from a local construction company, Facad, have approached the Zimbabwe Construction and Allied Workers’ Union seeking help on how to recover their salaries, some as little as $4, after the company allegedly reneged on salary payments.
The company is said to have been contracted by Liquid, a subsidiary of the country’s biggest telecommunication firm, Econet Wireless to dig trenches for its fibre optic project in Bulawayo.
Zimbabwe Construction and Allied Trade Workers regional officer Mr Joseph Taderera confirmed the matter adding that although there was some headway, there was still a problem of underpaying.
He added that it was worrying that the company had failed to settle wages some as low as $4 to the workers.
“Some payments may have started coming in but the main problem is that these people are being grossly underpaid,” said Mr Taderera.
He said according to the National Employment Council for the Construction Industry, there were a lot of labour practices companies in the construction sector were not adhering to.
According to NEC, wages must be paid within five days of completion of the assigned work at a recommended rate of $1,57 per hour.
However, it emerged that the company engaged workers for $1 per metre dug. The agreement was verbal.
“These companies are not adhering to all these requirements,” said Mr Taderera. “Once they finish paying these people we are going to deal with the fundamental issues pertaining to underpayment and denying workers pension.”
Workers who spoke to Sunday Business, however, said they were owed salaries for a month and two weeks.
“We have worked for close to a month and two weeks without receiving any payment,” said a worker who declined to be named.
He added that the Facad manager, identified as Martha, reportedly left Bulawayo under the pretext of collecting payments from Harare about a month ago.
“She never returned from that time. She keeps making false promises about dates of payment.”
Efforts to reach Martha were futile as she was not responding to messages and calls.
However, in a message sent to Mr Taderera, she refused to write a letter of commitment and indicated that she must not be pestered to pay the wages.
Mr Taderera complained that most employers in the construction industry had a worrying mentality that Bulawayo was a source of cheap labour.
Online Reporter