WORKERS at RioZim have written a letter of complaint to the management over delays in payment of their salaries with some grades noting that they have outstanding dues dating back to June.
RioZim Limited Group of Companies runs Renco Mine (Nyajena communal lands, approximately 75km southeast of Masvingo), Empress Nickel Refinery (Eiffel Flats, Kadoma), Cam and Motor Mine (Eiffel Flats, Kadoma) and Dalny Mine in Kadoma.
In a letter addressed to the group human resources manager, workers union representative, Solidarity Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Prince Mpala said the workers were concerned and disgusted over the delays in payment of their dues.
“We act on behalf of our clients or members at whose instance we address you. We have noticed a serious and dangerous trend within the conduct of your business practices,” Mpala wrote.
“Your business takes pride in summary dismissals, reports of late payments of salaries and non-provision of PPE [personal protective equipment]. Such tendencies within the mine are rampant. Complaints of such are [made] daily to us by our members.
“We, as a revolutionary union representing our members, do not and cannot condone such behaviour and allow it to be a burden.”
The workers also demanded that the company should stop this practice.
“Furthermore, your employees are protected by Zimbabwe labour laws such as Labour Act [Chapter 28:01] section 12(2)(e), Statutory Instrument 152 of 1990 section 19(5)(a)(i). None of the above provisions were complied with resulting in summary unilateral conduct by your company,” the letter further read
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“Our members and their families are suffering a great deal of financial pain and serious distress. It is important that most of these hard workers are also breadwinners for their families and they should also be treated as humanely as possible in line with the laws of Zimbabwe [sic]. We are, therefore, requesting a meeting with your management.”
As a follow up to their letter to RioZim, Mpala said employees in grades 1 to 10 were owed salaries from June and no tangible pay dates had been provided.
“RioZim owners have the cheapest labour because as investors, they are refusing to put money, forcing production when it seems they are not ploughing back or investing in workers [sic],” he said, adding that they had made efforts to discuss with directors to no avail.
“We hereby ask the government to intervene to save the workers who are being subjected to serious suffering,” Mpala said.
RioZim is yet to respond to the union’s letter.
RioZim group human resources manager Jacqueline Njaike declined to comment, referring all questions to the group’s communications executive Wilson Gwatiringa.
Gwatiringa was not available to comment yesterday.
