THE Wendall Parson (Pvt) Ltd’s Nevada 24 gold mine has been ordered by an independent arbitrator to pay its workers approximately US$89 000 as cash in lieu of leave, gratuity and back pay for underpaying employees.
Nevada 24 gold mine is owned by former Big Brother Africa housemate Wendall Robert Parson.
Fortune Nyathi and 18 other workers, represented by a paralegal officer, Percy Mcijo, initially took their case to the National Employment Council for the Mining Industry, where a designated agent ordered the employer to pay them US$89 574,80.
In 2021, Parson indicated that his company was focused on processing gold from dumps instead of undertaking underground mining operations.
He said processing ore from the dump site would allow the company to enjoy economies of scale compared to engaging in conventional mining.
Parson also indicated that the plant was worth between US$1 million and US$2 million, adding that it could produce roughly 28 grammes of gold per tonne and sometimes as high as 30 grammes per tonne, but on average, 10 to 20kg of gold per month was being achieved.
However, the former workers indicated that the company was making an average of 30kg of gold per month, adding that they were wondering why they were being underpaid.
They took the matter to arbitration and won, with the company being given 14 days to pay, but it never complied with the award.
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Following the award, the workers’ representative wrote to independent arbitrator Sazane Jethro Ngwenya seeking the confirmation of the award which Ngwenya upheld and granted.
“Following the request by the claimants represented by Mcijo for an inclusion of the time frame for compliance by the respondent in the award, the request is granted,” Ngwenya wrote early this month.
“It is ordered that the respondent shall pay the judgment debt of US$89 574,80 guided by the terms as outlined in the original award of June 20, 2025, to the claimants within 14 days of receipt of this amendment.”
In their submissions to Nec, the workers indicated that they were paid paltry salaries far below the recommended Nec figure of US$372.
They also accused their employer of failing to pay for off days, non-payment of night duty allowances, leave days and working outside contracts.
The workers also submitted that there were rampant labour malpractices, including being charged for damaged plant equipment, no payslips and not contributing to the National Social Security Authority.
“We are claiming all our pending dues from 2022 to September 2024. There is also no proper protective clothing, proper housing, clean water; we are drinking water straight from the dam and there is no medical aid cover for those injured at work,” they said.
“There is no establishment of a workers’ committee, and we are being paid some hours with gallons and empty sacks. Our prayer is that all the issues raised be addressed.”
The Nec designated agent ruled that the workers were not being paid cash in lieu of leave days and were getting salaries below council rates.
He also indicated that the workers said they were entitled to gratuity payment in lieu of pension in terms of the collective bargaining agreement for the mining industry and were entitled to payment of cash in lieu of leave and back pay.
The workers prayed for the payment of a total gratuity of US$10 092,37, back pay for underpayment totalling US$65 913 and cash in lieu of leave amounting to US$13 524,04.
The company is yet to settle the debt amid revelations that workers are now seeking the services of the messenger of court to attach its property.
