The Sunday Mail
Employers should find means to pay their workers’ bonuses despite the country’s depressed economy, employee representatives have said.
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions secretary-general Mr Japhet Moyo accused employers of hiding behind a finger by declaring declining revenues.
“We have not received any communication from employers to the effect that they will not be paying workers bonuses. So, we are just working on the assumption that everything is in place and that we will receive our bonuses as per tradition,” said Mr Moyo.
“We, however, foresee a situation where companies with salary arrears will fail to pay. In my years of experience, employers have never, at any point, said they have money to pay bonuses.
“They always hide behind a finger. They have to pay using the little they have,” he said.
United Food and Allied Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Mr Adonia Mutero said 70 percent of employers in the sector can afford bonuses.
“Basically, companies in the food and beverages sector are doing quite well. So, yes, some companies in the sector are going to pay their employees bonuses. For instance, Delta Beverages and other companies give their employees bonuses twice a year.
“Companies like Innscor and Crystal Candy are doing very well and might pay their employees. Over 70 percent of employers in our sector have the capacity but are afraid that if they do so, this may contradict submissions on salary negotiations where they have offered employees a zero percent salary increment,” he said.
