Up to 2 000 workers set to lose jobs at ZESA

Between 1 700 and 2 000 workers may lose their jobs as the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) restructures. Workers at the power company, are alleging that ZESA Holdings is denying that it is carrying out a restructuring exercise.

National Energy Workers Union of Zimbabwe (NEWUZ) wrote to the Energy National Employment Council saying:

Surprisingly, on the 3rd of April 2017, the claimant learnt through memos addressed to its members that the respondent was actually on the advanced stage of the restructuring exercise, which will result in the loss of 1 700 to 2 000 jobs. Despite the assurances made by the respondents, they have unilaterally proceeded with their unlawful exercise. Consequently a labour dispute has arisen wherein this tribunal is clothed with jurisdiction to urgently resolve the matter

Zesa Holdings have maintained that it will not be laying off people with ZESA Holdings public relations manager, Fullard Gwasira saying:

The ZESA group is not embarking on a retrenchment exercise at the moment, and has not given any such notice as is required by the Labour Relations Act. No jobs are being lost. The Labour Act clearly emphasises the need to consult staff before any retrenchment exercise is embarked on. As part of the process to align staff structures to the prevailing business model, the company regularly examines its manpower charts. This process identifies areas of over and under staffing. The company then subsequently aligns its staffing to the business strategy. This process may entail moving staff to new areas which would have been identified. For example, the advent of prepaid meters has negated the meter-reading function, and staff in these portfolios is being redeployed in line with the current strategy.

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