adminThe arbitrator found the Rainbow Tourism Group-owned Matetsi Water Lodges guilty of unfair labour practices after going for eight months without paying its 106 workers.
He ordered the company to pay $216 221,20 through the Zimbabwe Catering and Hotel Workers Union.
The hearing was attended by Mrs Prisca Mhlanga and Mr Wonder Siyandomene representing the appellants, while the respondent was represented by Mr Eladious Tsvangirai of the RTG corporate office.
“The respondent is found guilty of unfair labour practices in that he is not paying his employees as prescribed by the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement. The respondent is hereby ordered to pay appellants the amount owing, $216 221,20, through their representative within 21 days,” reads part of the ruling.
The money is meant to settle last December-to-June salaries.
The employees were claiming that their employer was deliberately not paying their monthly wages as prescribed by the catering industry.
In submissions, the respondent admitted that the arrears in wages were due and payable.
“The respondent submits that its business has faced unprecedented hardships in the past 10 months which has made it impossible for the respondent to pay the arrear wages on time. The respondent argues that when they took over the business called Matetsi Water Lodge in March 2010, it was on a business rescue arrangement as the business had failed to pay a loan to a local commercial bank.”
The respondent also claimed to have secured financiers to restructure the business and give voluntary retrenchment packages to the appellants which they all rejected making the situation worse because the outstanding wage bill keeps escalating.
Online Reporter