The Sunday News
Vincent Gono in Mwenezi
The management of Zimbabwe Bio-Energy company (ZBE) has moved in to avert a potentially explosive dispute between the company and workers after it emerged that the firm had re-drawn contracts for 450 workers making them seasonal workers and forcing them to renounce any claim to salary arrears dating back six to eight months as well as any rights they enjoyed under the previous contract.
The row has seen accusations and counter accusations between the management and workers with the latter accusing the management of gross unfair labour practices. The company’s senior management later issued a general notice to the affected workers “correcting” some of the clauses in the contracts that were given to the workers in a bid to douse the flames.
“It has come to management’s attention that there has been misinformation regarding the terms of the new fixed term contracts that are being introduced as a company policy and the implications of the terms. The signing of the new contracts and the new terms shall not affect any of the employees’ individual history regarding leave days accrued, salary arrears and the rate of pay as at the time of accrual and previous service for purposes of gratuity calculation,” reads part of the notice signed by one of the managers Mr Piet Kooy and legal representative Mr Allan Murimirwa.
The workers, however, still insist that the changes to the contract were too piecemeal and cosmetic in nature and were meant to pacify the volatile situation that exists.
“The company is not withdrawing the clause on the flawed contract document but is saying we should sign. We are not going to sign it on the strength of that notice. They should give us a new document or withdraw everything,” said a worker.
The human resources manager, Mr Tavonga Tivaira, declined to speak to the Sunday News during a visit to the company’s Nuanetsi Ranch premises in Mwenezi on Friday. The eight-paged document had a clause that requires workers to release the company, its management and directorate from all actions, debts, suits, demands, complaints, and claims arising from any engagement with the company or make any claim against ZBE.
It is understood that neither resident director Mr Charles Madonko nor public relations officer Ms Lillian Muungani were consulted on the move. The Zimbabwe Bio-Energy (Private) Limited company started operations at Nuanetsi Ranch in Mwenezi in 2007. The operations at the ranch which is owned by the Development Trust of Zimbabwe include crocodile farming, safari and cattle ranching.
In the past couple of years workers at the ranch have had difficulties getting their monthly wages on time resulting in the company accruing the salary backlog.
The contested document proposed that employment contracts would run for six months from 23 May this year to 22 November. Thereafter the contract would consequently terminate without further notice to the employee and without any guarantee of further employment beyond the date.
