The Sunday Mail
CONSTRUCTION workers at the US$400 million Unki housing project who are employed by six local contractors intend to demonstrate against Unki Mine over an unpaid wage bill that has since climbed to US$700 000 over the past five months.
The surprise move, which has startled the South African-based miner Ango American Platinum (Amplats) — the parent company of Unki — is being led by the Zimbabwe Construction and Allied Trades Workers’ Union (ZCATWU).
Amplats has since advised ZCATWU “to direct all its grievances to the relevant employer” — the contractors.
Unki is constructing 956 accommodation facilities for its employees.
The platinum producer is presently using a materials aggregators model where virtually all the materials are being supplied by another local company, Weldmax.
Six contractors that have been engaged to construct the houses are Newbase Construction, Dohne Construction, Ubuntu Construction, Citizen Construction, Bambanani Construction and Searlbridge Construction companies.
They have been failing to pay their workers on time, arguing that they are also not being paid by the project managers. Amplats, however, says they are fully paid up. ZCATWU secretary-general Mr Nicolas Mazarura said last week the union had notified the miner of the impending demonstration.
“It’s almost five months now after numerous complaints from our members that they have not been receiving their salaries. The wage bill amounts to US$700 000.
“We have since applied to the relevant authorities to have a demonstration against Unki on the 8th of October upon approval.
“The fact that Unki mine has changed from fixed supplying contract to a labour broking contract is now affecting worker’s salaries and National Employment Council (NEC) funds.
“We don’t believe that a foreign company came to Zimbabwe to arm-twist and take advantage of our members who are trying to make a living from their resources.
“The demonstration will be led by Chief Nhema,” said Mr Mazarura.
Curiously, Mr Mazarura could not explain why the demonstration was being directed at Unki and not the contractors who had failed to meet their contractual obligations towards the workers.
Amplats media and external relations manager Ms Mpumi Sithole said the notice is “misguided”. She further noted that the union cannot lawfully organise a collective job action against the Unki Mines as it is not their employer.
The mining giant claims that all the payments to the six local contractors are fully paid up.
“We confirm having received a ‘Notice of Demonstration against Unki Mine’ from the Zimbabwe Construction and Allied Trades Workers’ Union.
“The union purports to represent the workers employed by the six contractors engaged by Unki Mine for the construction of the nearly one thousand houses for its employees that are under construction in Shurugwi.
“The notice, with respect, is misguided as it is clear that Unki Mines is not the employer of the complainants.
“It follows therefore that the union cannot lawfully organise a collective job action against Unki Mines, who is not their employer.
“The trade union would be best advised to direct all its grievances to the relevant employer.
“Various meetings have been held with the contractors and various Government officials to try and get to the bottom of the matter.
“All payments to contractors are up to date. Unki is up to date with all payments to contractors for certified work done by the contractors,” said explained Ms Sithole.
It is understood that most of the 500 workers earn a net salary of between US$200 and US$350. The housing project is running behind schedule as the first phase of the US$25 million housing project was supposed to have been completed by December last year.
