FORMER employees of hospitality and retail group, Meikles Limited, who were retrenched in March, yesterday staged a demonstration in Bulawayo demanding their outstanding severance packages.
BY MTHANDAZO NYONI/MELODY CHIMHAU
The company served scores of employees with termination of employment letters in March in a nationwide exercise, reportedly targeted at releasing over 70% of its workforce.
Worker representatives told Southern Eye that Meikles Bulawayo retrenched 33 workers out of a staff compliment of 43.
They accused the group of introducing the exercise to get rid of permanent workers in favour of contract employees.
Close to 50 employees accused John Moxon, the company’s chairman, of breaching their contracts. They sang and danced carrying posters written: “40 years of service, we need our money Moxon. I have a right to life” “Gone are the days of slavery” “Pay us our retrenchment money now”.
A representative of the protestors, Owen Chidangadura, said there had been delays in releasing retrenchment packages for the workers.
“We have families and all we want is our retrenchment packages,” Chidangadura said.
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“We have heard that Meikles is venturing into other businesses like mining, pouring a lot of millions, why can’t they give 153 people (retrenchment packages) and let them and start a new life somewhere?”
Other workers who spoke on condition of anonymity said life was now tough for them.
Another worker said he was now failing to pay rentals and send their children to school.
Moxon and company secretary Thabani Mpofu could not be reached for comment.
