Wattle Company workers walk 40km, to protest against non-payment of salaries since 2014

At least 100 workers from the Wattle company protested by walking 40km from the company’s estate in Vumba to its headquarters in Mutare to demonstrate against the non-payment of salaries. The workers alleged that they were last paid in 2014 and are reportedly owed about $350 000. Four of the workers’ representatives have been reportedly fired over this issue.

One of the workers who spoke to NewsDay said:

Currently, we don’t have a workers’ committee because it was fired after leading a march from Vumba and it’s very unfortunate, four were fired.

We are owed our salaries since 2014, and this affects 150 workers, both contract and permanent workers. They initially gave us $70 each and later $50, but we have resolved to continue with the strike until we have received full payment.

The company disputed this saying:

It is not true that they walked all the way from Vumba, but they used public transport, which dropped them off by the gate. Since they have taken the arrears dispute to the court, we are now waiting for the courts to finalise the matter.

More: NewsDay