By Solister Mogha:
Kasi Construction Company which is constructing Nawiwawa Road in Zomba has failed to pay K1.2 million terminal benefits to ten employees who the company unlawfully dismissed.
On November 2, 2022, the company terminated contracts of 10 employees who allegedly have told the visiting labour office inspection team about challenges that workers were facing at the company.
Speaking on Wednesday at Zomba Labour Office, Jonathan Pangani one of the concerned workers said on this fateful day, labour officials invited everyone for a meeting to speak on working conditions.
Pangani said the workers lamented about unavailability of a toilet and personal protective equipment, among other challenges.
“It appears that our boss was angry that we told labour officials about our challenges; this is what might have angered management who immediately summoned us for questioning and later announced of our dismissal,” Pangani said.
He said when they tried to enquire reasons for their dismissal; they were told they failed to defend the company before labour officials.
Pangani who worked for the company for three years said almost everyone who attended the meeting spoke about the challenges but was surprised that only a few were targeted.
Mabvuto Chambwinja who worked for the company for two and half years said although an agreement was made between the labour office for the company to pay them terminal benefits having unlawfully terminated their contracts, nothing has so far been materialised.
“Soon after our dismissal, we went to labour office to complain that their visit has cost us a job and discussions began to the extent that the company agreed to give us terminal benefits,” he said, adding that since then nothing tangible has happened.
“Some of us have no place to sleep and we don’t have transport to go back to our home districts, we wish government could’ve intervened to bail us out,” said Chambwinja.
Sharon Smart, a mother of two said the job was the only source of food and basic needs and terminating it without notice and proper reasons was a big blow.
Smart, however, said had the company paid them their terminal benefits; she could have started a small business to take care of her two children.
“I come from Phalombe and I don’t have transport to go back home and I have no food at home to feed my children,” she said.
District Labour Officer for Zomba, Innocent Banda confirmed to have engaged the company on several occasions, describing management of the company as ‘stubborn.’
Banda said at first the company did not even want to pay terminal benefits for the fired workers but that it only gave in after serious discussions.
“Each time we remind them about the money, they keep changing tone, we will continue to engage them but should therebe no compromise, we will proceed by filing case in court,” Banda said.
Banda said according to section 53 of the Employment Act, a company is supposed to pay terminal benefits of its dismissed employees.
Tutule Msukwa, the contractor said those sacked were not employees but rather casual labourers.
However, Msukwa who could not be drawn to divulge more details, said the company would pay the workers at an appropriate time.
