Troubled Waverley Blankets Resorts to Short-term Contracts
Waverley Blankets, a prominent textile company, finds itself embroiled in a labor controversy as reports emerge of workers being denied access to company premises for refusing to sign short-term contracts in January, insisting on permanent positions.
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Sources within the company, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that despite their tenure of over five years, management offered only contractual employment, prompting dissent among the workforce.
Per Statutory Instrument 54 of 2016, employees with continuous service exceeding five years are entitled to permanent status, a clause seemingly overlooked by management.
Trouble escalated when workers, upon resuming duties on January 25, declined to sign short-term contracts until permanent job assurances were provided.
Management responded by instructing security to restrict access to the premises, leading to a standoff.
An affected worker highlighted the genesis of the dispute, citing dissatisfaction with prolonged contractual arrangements despite obligations outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Management reportedly issued a notice mandating contract signing by January 15, 2024, or risk being barred from the premises, a directive met with resistance from workers.
Troubled Waverley Blankets Resorts to Short-term Contracts
Seeking recourse, employees turned to the National Employment Council (NEC), which ruled in their favor, ordering reinstatement and compensation for the period of exclusion.
However, the company allegedly rebuffed NEC’s directives and remained unresponsive to workers’ appeals.
Despite workers returning with NEC’s decree, attempts to re-enter the workplace were initially rebuffed, creating a stalemate.
The situation drew attention, prompting management to relent and permit entry, albeit without work duties assigned.
Compounding the standoff, employees claim non-receipt of January and February wages, exacerbating their predicament.
Efforts to reach Aaron Vico, Waverley’s managing director, for comment proved futile, and company representatives declined to engage with the press during NewsDay’s visit to the premises.
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As tensions persist, the unresolved labor dispute casts a shadow over Waverley Blankets, underscoring the complex dynamics between employers and workers in Zimbabwe’s industrial landscape.
Source| NewsDay
