Retrenchment plans rile Bata workers

WORKERS at Bata Shoe Company have become increasingly uneasy after the company advised that it will be embarking on a retrenchment exercise this week.

On Friday last week, rather than enjoy the festivities of the inauguration of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, management and workers from the shoe-making company thronged Zimpapers offices in Gweru to voice their displeasure on the proposed voluntary retirement scheme.

A copy of a letter for the scheme seen by The Herald indicated that the exercise, to cut both management and general workers, will begin on Thursday.

“The voluntary retirement offer shall be from November 23 to December 14 up to 4:30pm, a prescribed application form shall be available in the human resources department for all eligible employees, and the scheme will be processed through payroll and subject to tax as per applicable law,” reads part of a letter signed by human resources manager Ms Nora Zhanda.

“Management reserves the right to accept or reject any application made under this scheme without assigning any reasons for doing so. The company is also offering bonuses to employees who would have opted for the scheme in the next 14 days.

“Those employees who opt for voluntary retirement within seven working days on launch will be paid an early bird bonus of $500 over and above the VRS entitlement, while those employees who opt for the scheme within eight days to 14 working days of its launch will be paid a bonus of $300 over and above the VRS entitlement. No bonus shall be paid to applications submitted after 14 days from the date of launch.”

The affected workers accused the company of sabotaging the new Government by proposing the retrenchment scheme when everyone was optimistic of a bright future under President Mnangagwa.