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Retretched former Ingwebu Breweries employees demonstrate within the company premises over the payout of their pension contributions

Bianca Mlilo, Business Reporter
FORMER Ingwebu Breweries’ workers have camped outside the company’s Belmont premises to press management into paying them money they claim is owed to them in unpaid salaries and packages.

The group of about 100 workers staged a demonstration a fortnight ago claiming it was owed nearly $7 million by its former employer.

Yesterday the group, which now spends nights at Ingwebu, vowed not to go away until management addressed its grievances.

The former workers demanded to be addressed by Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister, Saviour Kasukuwere.

Management has distanced itself from the claims by its former employees and has since ordered the group to move out of the company premises.

The ex-workers allege that management had failed to give them their lump sum packages and claim the firm had been deducting money meant for their pensions which was never remitted to the pensions fund.

One woman who was part of the camping group with her grandson showed Business Chronicle a payslip that indicated she was owed $5,370.

Moses Mdonga said he was owed a compensation disability award after he was injured at work.

“I was injured in 2005 and I approached NSSA (National Social Security Authority) and they told me they had processed everything and my cheque had been given to the company,” said Mdonga.

The group has since engaged a lawyer who said they will soon approach the Labour Court for a hearing on the matter.

Ingwebu operates as an independent commercial entity although being a subsidiary of the Bulawayo City Council.

Bulawayo Mayor Martin Moyo could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone repeatedly rang unanswered.

His deputy Gift Banda declined to comment.