Good times roll for ex-Zisco workers

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WORKERS’ Unions at New Zim Steel, formerly Ziscosteel, are still unsure whether the company would resume operations although they received three months’ medical cover and school fees last week.

WORKERS’ Unions at New Zim Steel, formerly Ziscosteel, are still unsure whether the company would resume operations although they received three months’ medical cover and school fees last week.

BLESSED MHLANGA STAFF REPORTER

Chairperson of the joint workers’ union, Benedict Moyo, confirmed that while they welcomed the move by new major shareholders Essar Africa Holdings, workers were still in the dark about the future.

“We got one term worth of fees deposited in our accounts from Essar and three months’ worth of medical cover.

“This is a positive move, but workers are still in the woods. We have over seven terms in outstanding school fees and workers are not yet certain that this time we are going to open,” Moyo said.

Essar Africa Holdings and the workers struck a deal which would see the workers get three months’ worth of salaries in a once-off payment.

“The money will be a three-month termination of contract from Ziscosteel to New Zim Steel and thereafter the issue of outstanding salaries which stretch back to two years will then be paid in a manner that will be agreed,” Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Workers’ Union chairperson David Munjeri said.

Two years ago, President Robert Mugabe and in the company of then Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai officially opened New Zim Steel in Redcliff raising hopes for more than 3 000 workers and their families.

However, the deal almost collapsed when the government withheld issuing New Zim Minerals with a mining rights licence.

New Zim Steel chief executive officer Vinod Arora said the deal had now been sealed and there would be no going back.

“New Zim Steel is now awake and it will be working; there is no going back,” Arora said.

The unionists, who met Kwekwe Central MP Masango Matambanadzo, also expressed concern over moves by the legislature to change the Labour Act.

Munjeri said if the Act was changed, it would spell doom to workers, especially those employed by foreigners who are out to exploit workers while fattening their wallets.

“We are worried that the changes to the Labour Act will leave the workers suffering and protect the employer, especially some foreign investors who have no respect for workers’ safety, health and wellbeing,” Munjeri said.

Matambanadzo pledged to raise their concerns in Parliament and ensure that the government strikes a balance in protecting both the workers and business interests.

“Thank you for enlightening me on these labour issues. I really don’t understand the Labour Act because I never worked in any big company. My only employment was as a garden boy,” Matambanadzo said.