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Nonsikelelo Moyo, Business Reporter
AFRICAN Sun Limited former workers who lost their jobs two years ago have approached the hotel group demanding to be paid money deducted from their salaries as savings.

From 2001, the employer deducted five percent per month from each worker’s salary on the pretext that the savings would be remitted to Old Mutual.

The deductions, which affected those who had been promoted to higher positions, were supposed to stop in 2006 but continued until 2009 after dollarisation.

The hotel group fired 100 workers from Elephant Hills, Kingdom Hotel and Victoria Falls Hotel in Victoria Falls in 2015 and some of them have now approached their former employer demanding to be paid the five percent savings.

The Chronicle is in possession of correspondence between African Sun Limited human resources manager Mr Elijah Nyakurerwa and the former workers on the issue.

There are copies of payslips showing the monthly deductions.

The ex-workers claim they were never consulted on the issue and now demand a copy of the agreement between African Sun and Old Mutual.

Speaking on behalf of the ex-workers, Mr Thabani Mhlanga, accused their former employer of duping them.

“African Sun deducted money claiming it’s our savings without consulting us. We want them to give us the agreement they entered with Old Mutual on our behalf and they have been dodging us on this. We have spoken to Old Mutual and they want details which we don’t have,” he said.

Mr Mhlanga said there are no records to show how much each former worker contributed.

African Sun Limited secretary Mr Venon Musimbe said the contributions were voluntary.

He said due process was followed and the former workers can approach the company as individuals.

“Indeed the organisation ran a voluntary, defined contribution and limited tenure saving scheme details of which the individual participants have.

However, should it be the view that all internal remedies have been exhausted or should they otherwise so wish, participants are free to approach the appropriate courts of law for redress,” said Mr Musimbe. — @nonsy_m.