Solution: Some decide to join stokvels

- Some of the employee said they have decided to join stokvels with the little that they are getting.

MATSAPHA

“That’s why we are able to make ends meet,” said *Jennifer.

“Even the stokvels are a secret because we are afraid of what they will do if they were to find out.”

The employee said they established groups of 10 so that the stokvels could generate sufficient income for borrowing and generating interest.

They are then able to money for school fees.

“That is how we are able to survive on the little that we are getting. You are left with nothing to maintain yourself,” she said.

The worker also alleged that the top management has raise banned the formation of a union for them to address the challenges that they were facing.

“We are told to report our challenges with the management, the same people that report directly to the owners of the firm.

Tied

“Even when we report such, we are told that the management’s hands are tied on such issues, “she said.

She further lauded one of the textile firms in Matsapha for trying its best to take care of their workers’ welfare.

“Not long ago, I had my leg in the plaster of paris but received no support from the company. In the other firm, I would have received groceries during my absence from work,” she said.

“They would have also come to check on me and provide funeral policies for their employees, but at our company, there are no such benefits.”

She added: “The owners of these companies do not come from the same country, which explains why the treatment is not the same. We have Japanese, Philipines, Indians and Chinese owners in these firms. Supervisors get around E1 600 per fortnight, which translates to E3200 in a month.”

Asked if they were given school fees loans as employees, the worker alleged that they used to enjoy such privileges in the past but such benefits have since stopped. She said they used to get school fees loans of up to E1 800.

“We tried this year when schools opened but our requests were denied,” she said.

The employee said the saddest part was that they were ordered to proceed on unpaid leave.

(Pic sourced from internet) Textile workers on the job. Some textile employees in Eswatini said they have decided to join stokvels so that they can earn extra money to meet their everyday needs.