Botswana February 2006 |
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| Zimbabwean workers stranded, (Mmegi/The Reporter, 2006-02-13):-About 33 Zimbabwean workers of Denish Textiles in Selebi-Phikwe are appealing for help after a misunderstanding with their employer. The Zimbabweans are currently seeking assistance from the Department of Labour and the Police. They were hired last year by the textile firm after responding to an advertisement placed in Zimbabwean papers. They said they broke for holidays on December 26 and were supposed to report back for duty on January 16 only to be told that they "will be re-employed." "We were shocked to hear that because the company was breaching our contract of employment to end our services while our permits were still valid. It was even worse because we were only paid part of our salaries for December and nothing for January," said one Zimbabwean. The Zimbabweans approached the labour office and were advised to make an emergency application to the Industrial Court but then they said they have no money to push their case. They decried lack of cooperation from the labour department. "What we are mostly concerned with is our welfare and we are pleading for the company to give us money so that we can return back home." The Zimbabweans said they were chased out of the houses they rented by their landlords and they are currently homeless. Last week they were reported to have spent the night at the police station and they had to be chased away the following day. They reportedly sought refuge at the labour office but they were chased once again. After this, the Zimbabweans said they resorted to sitting in front of the house of their boss to demand their pay but were dispersed by the police. They stated that at some point, the director gave them P50 each for rent. "We are currently stranded with nothing to eat and we sleep in the bush. We just decided to keep the P50s to buy loaves of bread every day to survive." The Zimbabweans claim that a company official dodged them at the labour office when he was supposed to pay them. Station Commander for Selebi-Phikwe police ,Isaiah Makala said he is aware of the case of the Zimbabweans. He said they once came to his station but said they never spent the night there. He said the police had the right to chase the Zimbabweans when they flocked in front of the house of their boss. "Their case is being handled by the labour department therefore there is no need for them to stand in front of the director's house." Denish personnel manager, Michael Kelesitse said they do not know anything about the stranded Zimbabweans. He said they currently have 47 Zimbabwean employees in their company. "We are shocked because we have not opened since we closed for the festive season. We are told that they even went to labour to demand repatriation fee. It is surprising in that our employees have not even reported for duty," said Kelesitse. | |
South African Migration Project (SAMP) - Queen's University - http://www.queensu.ca/samp |