Zimglass fails to re-open

Business
BY RUTENDO MAWERE GWERU — Zimglass, the country’s sole glass manufacturer has failed to re-open as planned, throwing the future of hundreds of employees into jeopardy.

The Gweru-based company stopped operations last year to allow for the relining of its only functional furnace, forcing 472 workers to go on unpaid leave.

 

There were promises that operations would resume this month with increased production.

But only about 100 workers have returned to work on half salary and the company extended indefinitely the unpaid leave for other employees.

Zimglass needs between US$10 million and US$19 million to rebuild the second furnace.

Jacob Dube, the company’s MD said they had not resumed operations as scheduled because of delays in the delivery of equipment from Europe.

The equipment was sourced from an Italian company, Bosca Dalla Fontana (BDF) industries  and it is estimated to cost about US$4 million.

BDF would also supervise the refurbishment.

Despite the fact that Zimglass’ works council agreed on the extension of the unpaid leave, workers who had reported for duty were not happy with the new developments.

The review of the US$60 allowance to US$85 a month did little to calm their fears.

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions central region chairperson, Martin Tazvivinga said the forced leave was an unfair labour practice and urged Zimglass to follow proper retrenchment procedures if it was failing to re-open.