A private security company jointly owned by Zimbabwe Defence Forces and a consortium of retired high ranking military officers reportedly embarked on an employment termination spree in its Chiadzwa Operations.

More than 20 private security guards were laid off in the month of September alone due to low business.

The security company, in its letters of dismissals the company said “Due to reduction of posts by client, be advised that your current employment contract has been terminated.”

The Client referred to by Masimba Security is Jinan Mine, a Chinese diamond mining firm which is involved in the Mining of diamonds in the Chiadzwa area.

These security guards whose contracts were terminated had served company for periods ranging above two and three years on fixed term contracts that had been continuously renewed without any work stoppages or changes to the nature of work.

Zimbabwe Security Guards Union (ZISEGU), Eastern Region office confirmed that and has since written to the Group Human Resources advising on a positional approach to have the terminations being done in hook line and sinker with the Law.

The Union Officer confirms that he had taken the matter to the Designated Agent (D/A) for the National Employment Council for the Security Industry (NECSI) Manicaland for Conciliation.

The security company is also accused of failing to comply with the Labour Act Chapter 28:01 generally, on the issues of Vacation leave entrenched in the echelons Security Industry Collective Bargaining Agreement (Statutory Instrument 76 of 2012) under section 21.

The employees are alleging underpayment for overtime worked and the union has since started instituting claims for compensation as well as members’ money deducted for the purchasing of the company’s fridge and the amounts deducted for uniforms which are supposed to be provided for free of charge in terms of the legislation section 28 (1) Statutory Instrument 76 of 12 (CBA) as read with Private Investigations and Security Guards (General) Regulations Statutory Instrument 156 of 2007 are to be invoked in support of its members rights.

The workers are also claiming their unpaid housing and transport allowances for their entire tenure, a provision which has been agreed and deeply embedded in the CBA.

The matter awaits a set down date for Conciliation proceedings before the NEC Designated Agent.  By Stephen Jakes. Source: Byo24News