Union challenges city’s retirement age

THE Harare Municipal Workers Union has accused council of inhuman treatment by forcing employees to retire on reaching 60 years when their contract of employment and collective bargaining agreement sets final retirement age at 65.

Council has introduced a 55-year early retirement and 60 years mandatory retirement policy.

HMWU executive chairperson Mr Cosmas Bungu said the city unilaterally arrived at the decision without consulting other partners.

Mr Bungu’s comments came as former city employees recently demonstrated over non-payment of pensions.

Although council deducted money from their accounts, it was not remitted to the Local Authorities Pension Fund.

“The forced retirement idea came from the employer,” said Mr Bungu. “The pensionable ages in terms of the Statutory Instrument 135-2012 (10) clause(1) states that “subject to the Local Authority Pension Regulation the following shall be considered pensionable age (a) 50 of years of age early retirement (b) 60 years of age normal retirement (c) 65 years retirement.”

Mr Bungu said the employees, who retired at the age of 60, had contracts of employment stating their retirement age as 65. He said instead, they were subjected to the inhuman treatment.

“We took our cases through numerous forums, including the then Minister of Local Government since in our qualified view the decision appeared to have sinister political connotations and motives taking into cognisance certain departments, sections and divisions in the city,” he said.