THERE was drama at Lobels Biscuits (Pvt) Limited in Graniteside, Harare, where over 30 workers protested over unfair dismissal and long standing salary arrears that their former employer has neglected to pay.
BY TAFADZWA MUTACHA
When NewsDay arrived at the scene the former employees were singing and dancing as they carried placards denouncing “corrupt” senior management and victimisation of workers who aired their grievances.
Aggrieved former worker Herbert Chapo said they were unfairly dismissed on May 31 as proper retrenchment procedures were not adhered to.
“Twenty-one permanent workers were offered retrenchment packages and nine on contracts were dismissed verbally. We had a meeting with our employer and our trade union United Food and Allied Workers Union of Zimbabwe (UFAWUZ) on our grievances, but to our surprise those that attended the meeting were all fired. This victimisation is not fair and we demand our jobs back and that outstanding wages to paid,” he said.
“Only those from the merchandise department were fired and our former employer failed to provide us with a solid reason why we were retrenched.” Chapo said they are appealing to Labour minister Petronella Kagonye to intervene.
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“What Lobels Biscuits and Sweets is doing is against what President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Workers’ Day that workers should not be abused. We are appealing to the President and all other arms of the State to intervene in this case, including Labour minister Petronella Kagonye to come to our rescue us. Such unfair treatment of workers is unacceptable and cannot go unnoticed,” Chapo said.
Lobels Biscuits and Sweets human resources manager identified as Andrew Dinhidza refused to comment on the protest. “No comment my friend,” he said.