Of overpaid bosses and starving workers

John Manzongo At the Workplace
The year 2013 has come and gone, a new year 2014 has arrived. We are starting a fresh year with nothing really tangible in sight for the workers both in public and private sector. For workers, 2014 appears mixed and complicated.There seems to be no clear direction as to whether workers will be getting a living wage or the usual paltry incomes.

Civil servants are still waiting to hear how much they will be getting this month since negotiations were deferred last month but one could safely bet that they will be getting salaries that are not below the Poverty Datum Line of US$543 a month because President Mugabe has since declared that Government cannot become a slave master over its own people and workers.

He said the country has large mineral resources that can sustain the whole nation if only people become transparent and remit what they are supposed to do to the State.

Transport fares from almost all suburbs were unilaterally hiked from US$0,50 to US$1 as far back as October 2013 and workers had nothing to cushion them from that hike as they never received the necessary adjustment. Instead they had to tighten their belts while bosses loosened theirs.

If ever you want to get a kombi for US$0,50 you have to wait until 9am by which time you will get to work and be greeted with a strong reprimand or written warning from bosses who will just be arriving as they try to avoid peak hour traffic.

After work if ever you want to get a kombi for US$0,50 you have to wait for as late as 8pm after the peak hour; yet one risks being mugged or robbed by the now unpredictable kombi crews who sometimes use commuter omnibuses for carjacking.

Employers are better advised that workers are now strained especially on transport money, although they may not express it for fear of being victimised and ultimately sacked, especially in light of ineffectual representation.

Government could intervene and reintroduce Zupco buses to replace the kombis which are ripping off workers of their hard-earned cash.
Some landlords have also not spared the worker as they have raised rentals this month.
A raise this month in transport and housing allowances could cushion the workers.

While many workers who live a few kilometres away from the city centre have resorted to footing to work, management and bosses seem to be well cushioned against the harsh economy since it is easy for them to adjust their fuel allocations whenever fuel prices go up.

“Kadoma”, as the improvised seat facing the rest of the passengers in many kombis is commonly known, has since become a contested territory by many workers in a bid to pay US$0,50.

The ordinary worker must stay voiceless. If you dare say that you need a raise you are immediately reminded of how cold it is out there and unless you want to be in the cold then keep talking about getting a raise.

It is very funny how it is that while some are shrinking others are bulging yet they live in the same economy.
Last week I was reading about how teachers are now refusing to be promoted just because their salary difference is just US$1.
This is so sad for the ever busy workers who are most of the time subsidising their monthly earnings just to keep the nation educated.

From the paltry pay that many workers are earning, which fall way below the Poverty Datum Line, they are supposed to pay rentals, transport for the mother, father and school-going children, pay school fees, buy uniforms, food, electricity and support relatives. How is one expected to balance all those?

The 2014 National Budget, which was recently presented by Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa, mentioned that Government was working on a framework that will regulate salaries of top management in parastatals and local authorities so as to reduce the income gap.
This move, if speedily executed, will take the nation in the right direction.

It is not fair to hear that some loss- making companies are even going to the banks to get overdrafts just to pay salaries.
Whoever appoints boards to run parastatals needs to redo his or her homework by selecting the best qualified people to lead such boards and get rid of greedy opportunists who seem to know nothing but just spending money without regard to the plight of workers whom they claim to lead.

How can someone in his or her right senses place his wife who is seated at home on a company payroll where she is purportedly paid as a manager while the real worker is going for half a year without pay?

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