THE National Mine Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe (NMWUZ) is threatening to take to court Metallon Gold and Casmyn Mining Limited for non-remittance of subscriptions for their respective employees. GAMMA MUDARIKIRI OWN CORRESPONDENT
In letters seen by Southern Eye Business addressed to Casmyn Mining (Pvt) Ltd and Metallon Gold Limited (How Mine), NMWUZ claimed that the two mining companies have not been remitting employees’ subscriptions to the union for months adding that it was in breach of the Labour Act.
“Take notice that as duly registered corporate in terms of the laws of Zimbabwe and capable of being sued and suing in the corporate name of NMWUZ, the Union has the right to the dues in terms of the Labour Act 28:01,” part of the letter reads.
“We therefore write to inform you to pay up and clear all outstanding payment within seven days, failure of which we will not be left with any option but to jump start relevant legal proceedings to recover outstanding amounts,” the letter adds.
Casmyn Mining (Pvt) Ltd is owned by the listed concern Falcon Gold Zimbabwe and according to the letter the mine has not been remitting subscriptions to the union from July with an outstanding balance of $1 300.
This is despite the fact that the company is deducting 3% of the workers’ basic salary who joined the union as subscription fee to the union.
When contacted for comment, Casmyn Mining (Pvt) Ltd referred all questions to group chief executive officer Ian Saunders who was said to be out of the country and would only be available on November 24.
Metallon Gold is accused of not remitting dues to the union as from May this year with an outstanding balance amounting to $387,04.
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Contacted for comment the company’s human resource manager who preferred anonymity, could neither confirm nor deny receiving the letter saying unions should come for a dialogue with the company.
But the letter seen by Southern Eye was stamped by the mine confirming receipt.
“If the unions have any problems, why don’t they come and we discus how we can resolve the problem?” he said.
“The money involved is a small figure and I don’t think the mine can have problems in paying that,” he added.
In the letter the union claimed that the non-remittance of subscriptions by mining companies was incapacitating it in discharging its mandate to represent workers’ grievances.
According to the labour Act 28:01, for the purposes of fulfilling its obligation to represent the interest of members employed or engaged in the undertaking or industry for which it is registered, a trade union may levy, collect and sue for and recover union associated fees.
