9 000 workers retrenched in 2015 and 2016, 26 companies retrench workers in January 2017

The Zimbabwe Independent reports that 9 000 workers were retrenched in 2015 and 2016 as it emerged that 26 companies have retrenched workers this month.

In an interview with the publication, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) secretary-general Japhet Moyo said a total of 8 843 workers were retrenched in 2015 and 2016. Said Moyo:

In 2015, 5 333 workers were retrenched and this does not include those who were affected by the July 17 Supreme Court ruling that year which allowed employers to dismiss workers on three months’ notice,” Moyo said. “In 2016, there were 3 510 workers who were retrenched which brings the total to more than 8 500 which is a huge figure if you look at the size of our economy and the level of unemployment.

Moyo said last year’s retrenchments were lower than in 2015 but however highlighted that the figure could be much more as several companies did not register their layoffs. The ZCTU secretary-general also revealed that between the 1st and 19th of this month, 26 companies have retrenched workers as revealed at the Retrenchment Board’s first meeting last week on Thursday.

More: Zimbabwe Independent