MBABANE:Ishmond Fakudze, the Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation(REScorp says an investigation has been launched to verify the allegations published by this Swaziland News suggesting that, “Jozane Suppliers is failing to pay workers’ salaries”.
Responding to this Swaziland News on Tuesday afternoon, the REScorp Group Public Affairs Manager said after reading the story, the company took these allegations very seriously particularly because, it involve the welfare of employees adding that, REScorp expects all contractors” to pay their employees.
“RES Corporation enters a contract with each contracted service provider. One of the terms of the contract pertains to management of contractor’ employees. The demand is that the contractor should manage its staff for the proper performance of its obligations under prevailing agreement, including but not limited to recruitment, housing and/or
accommodation, remuneration, overtime payment, attendance, performance appraisals, training of staff, leave management as well as matters pertaining to resignation, grievance and disciplinary proceedings. In doing so, the contractor is obligated to carry out the responsibility in accordance with the prevailing statutory laws of the Kingdom of Eswatini; towards this end the Contractor must ensure it pays its employees the basic minimum wage as provided for by the law. Should there be allegations of deviations from the contractual obligations, and that comes to our attention, RES Corporation does carry out her own investigation to determine the veracity of such claims, and if needs be, corrective action is taken accordingly as per the contract. In this specific query, RES Corporation is still investigating the matter”, said the Group Public Affairs Manager.
It has been reported that, Jozane Maziya, the Director of Jozane Suppliers contracted to the Royal Eswatini SugarCorporation allegedly “employs truck drivers for a few months and then, dump them without paying salaries”.
The businessman failed to respond and clarify why he is abusing emaSwati by refusing to pay their salaries while the REScorp pays his company millions as a contractor.
“Others warned us after securing employment saying ngabe nitawuhola yini ngoba ucedza kucosha labanye, nasekumele kuholwe uyakucosha acashe lomunye, kanjalo-kanjalo”, said one of the fired employees.
But to collaborate this allegation, this Swaziland News has been receiving complaints from other former employees who were fired by businessman Jozane Maziya without any payment.
This publication gathered that, the Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation “pays contractors timely for services rendered” but businessman Jozane Maziya would force his workers to work promising to pay and then, dismiss them on the payment date.
The Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation(pic: REScorp).