Zimpapers Logo

But in most cases the job seekers remain unemployed as certificates that they are receiving are not recognised by most organisations.

Would-be temporary teachers, nursery school teachers, security guards and till operators are the main groups targeted by the agencies.

The applicants are required to pay a training fee, which earns them a theoretical course and a period of attachment.
They are then required to pay another fee to receive the certificates that are proving to be just worthless pieces of paper.

Most well-known security companies and supermarkets indicated that they are not aware of any formal training institutes for their fields and that they conduct their own inhouse training of candidates with requisite academic qualifications.

Four operators approached by this paper could not clarify whether they are employment agencies or training institutions.
Under the Labour Act (Chapter 28:01) “employment agency” is defined as any business carried on for gain or reward in which employment of any nature whatsoever is either procured for persons seeking work or is offered to such persons on behalf of third parties, or in which advice in regard to such procurement or offering of employment is given to such persons or third parties, as the case may be.

For a company to register as an employment agency they must meet stringent requirements including but not limited to having ample physical premises which have separate interview and waiting rooms.
The key people have to prove that they are qualified for the job. An operating licence that is renewable yearly is also required.

Genuine tertiary institutions offering credible qualifications are required to be registered under the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education and their certificates show that they are affiliated to recognised examining bodies.

Costs of the training range from US$30 to US$50 per course. For security guard training attachment normally lasts for up to 14 days during which the applicant is on practical training and executes guard duties in reality.

A supermarket manager in the city centre who spoke on condition of anonymity said they did not take students on attachment but temporary workers.

He also revealed that the agencies offered the placement service for free but stipulated that wages due to the temporary workers be paid to the agency for onward disbursement.

All over the world and with the credible employment agencies in the country the standard practice is that job seekers pay nothing and it is the employer who will pay the agency after securing the desired candidate.

Mr James Kipp of Kipps Executive Placements, the oldest employment agency in the country, says that charging applicants is highly unethical.

Payment to the agency is by the employer, normally at an agreed percentage of the successful candidate’s earnings for a specified period with the regulated maximum set at the equivalent of 10 percent of the income for up to 12 months.

Many people who have gone through courses are still unemployed long after their “graduation”.
“This is daylight robbery, right now I cannot explain to anyone why I sacrificed the little money that I had to pay these people. I completed my course, I have the recommendation letter but I am not employed. They are stealing peoples’ resources,” said Tendai Chapfika a 26-year-old from Highfield, who says he completed a till operators’ course 12 months ago.

Chapfika said that the worst part is that these agencies are fleecing the most vulnerable sector of the society.
He said he borrowed the money that he used for training in anticipation of immediate employment and one year later he has not been able to repay the debt.

He said that he had gone back to the agency that took his money and told them that they were con artists just as evil as those who practise tricks like “chadonha” in the streets and deserve to be arrested and jailed.

Our investigations have revealed that the agencies can have up to 50 “trainees” at any given time.

This means that the agencies can realise around US$2 500 for each class just from the fees charged.
Other members of the public urged the responsible ministry to work with the police to track down these agencies and close them down before they con anymore people.