Workers owed E500k, seek King’s intervention
SITEKI – The over 75 workers of Takhamuti Farmers Association have alleged that the money they were owed by their employer, in unpaid salaries, has accumulated to over E500 000.
Last month, the workers picketed at the company’s offices, demanding payment of the salaries for three months.
The sugar cane scheme is situated at Hlane, a few kilometres from Hlane Royal Residence. The figures are contained in a report that was compiled after calculating the varying salary packs of the workers for the past three months.
According to a senior worker at the company, they were owed salaries from December until last month.
Worth mentioning, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Themba Masuku, delegated the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to address the matter.“We have been told that our salaries will be released soon after banks froze the association’s accounts, pending the ongoing infighting among the membership. Our children are starving and they are not attending schools due to owed school fees. We want our salaries and have been promised that we will be getting paid soon,” said the worker.
Takhamuti Farmers Association Chairperson Boy Hlophe said they had since sought intervention from His Majesty the Ingwenyama in the matter.
The chairperson said they were optimistic that the workers’ concerns would be addressed soon. Hlophe shared that some workers were now owed outstanding salaries for six months, dating back to September last year.
The chairperson added that the sugar cane scheme establishment was the brainchild of the King aimed at improving the livelihoods of its members.
Relocated
He mentioned that the members were relocated from their land and a village was constructed for them.
“It is disheartening that the workers have been sent from pillar to post in their quest to get their owed salaries. But now, they have gained confidence that they will receive what is due to them, with the intervention of the King in this matter,” Hlophe said.
He said they had to bring the matter to the King’s attention after the courts had not made a determination on it. “We have to take the privilege availed by the Buganu Ceremony and seek an audience with the King so that our matter is resolved. We hope the workers will now heave a sigh of relief as their matter will be resolved,” he said.
Acting Labour Commissioner Kingdom Mamba said the matter was reported to the Labour offices in Siteki.
Mamba said said his office was aware of it and that he was following it closely as it was pending before courts.
Dispute
The acting Labour commissioner further stated that his office had also been reliably informed that some parties to the dispute had decided to take the traditional route in an effort to resolve the impasse.
“Otherwise, we are working around the clock in ensuring that the workers get their arrear salaries,” he said.
Meanwhile, in December last year, the workers picketed at the company’s premises demanding payment from the association’s Board.
They displayed placards with messages reading, ‘No Money, No Work, Sifuna imali yetfu (we want our money)’ as they sang and dance after halting operations at the sugarcane scheme.
Police officers from Ngomane and Simunye Police Stations were deployed to calm the situation after the workers burnt logs.