Zinwa set to retrench 600 workers

THE Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) is set to lay off more than 600 workers on a fixed-term contract at the end of the month as part of its staff rationalisation programme, NewsDay can exclusively reveal.

Some of the targeted workers, mostly revenue collection officers, have already been advised of the looming job losses as the water authority embarks on a new strategic trajectory which entails staff realignment and reorganisation.

“The authority, hereby, gives you two months' notice of termination of employment in accordance with the provisions of section 12(4) of the Labour

Act (Chapter 28.01) and section 12(4a) of the Labour Amendment Act no 5 of 2015,” the termination letter read.

All the workers with outstanding payments and leave days will be paid accordingly

Some of the affected workers who, spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed they were not given two months' notice, while others claimed the exercise was not clear.

“The management is too secretive and we only started hearing the rumour of termination of contracts through our own social media platforms. They should have acted professionally and written to us. I received my termination letter only yesterday (Friday) and it's saying my last date of employment will be May 31 and basically, it is not two months notice period, but a month.

“What Zinwa has done to us is unlawful termination of employment contract by not giving us enough notice period.”

Efforts to get a comment from Zinwa management were futile, while Zimbabwe Water Trade Union secretary-general Butholethu Dube said he” was not at liberty to discuss the issue with the Press”.

Recently, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister Paul Mavima said all employers should uphold fair labour practices as enshrined in section 65 of the Constitution and as provided in section 2A of the Labour Act (Chapter 28.01).