THE Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) has proposed to pay compensation to workers it fired, rather than have them reinstated, as directed by the Labour Court earlier this year.
Report by Nqaba Matshazi
VID proposed to pay the 11 who were fired, a total of US$210 000, but the workers insisted this was far from what they were expecting as their sacking was unlawful.
In letters to the workers, Pretty Sunguro, a secretary in the Public Service Commission (PSC), said they would be paid six months’ salary at “current rates as damages in lieu of reinstatement”.
“The commission has deliberated your case and accordingly directed that you be paid back pay and allowances from 14 July 2010, (the) date of your dismissal to 27 January 2012, (the) date of judgment,” reads the letter.
“The period after date of judgment (will) be treated as leave without pay.”
The payments proposed by the VID range from US$13 000 to US$22 000, but the workers insisted that the amount was far from adequate.
They said they needed more money as compensation for their loss of income.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“We note that you have included in your offer, one month’s salary for every year served and six months’ salary as damages,” reads the letter from the workers’ lawyers, Coghlan, Welsh and Guest.
“Our clients are prepared to accept 24 months’ salary as damages and at least a severance package of at least two months for every year served, mainly because their industry is closed and it is not possible to get a similar job anywhere in the country, as there is only one Vehicle Inspection Depot.”
The lawyers claim that some of the workers had served the VID for more than 20 years and were nearing retirement age and hence it was impossible for them to get other jobs considering their advanced ages.
However, the PSC insisted that it did not want to reinstate the workers and has instead deposited US$6 000 into some of the workers’ accounts, as part of the settlement.
“We do not understand what this payment is for, given that there is no agreement as to the quantum of damages and if these negotiations fail, our clients still reserve the right to approach the courts for quantification,” the lawyers wrote.
In despair, some of the workers have written to the chief secretary in the President’s Office, hoping that he could address their plight and have them reinstated.
“We appeal to you to carefully look into our plight as we have endured untold suffering as a result of this action, which is being taken against us,” the letter reads.
However, despite losing the case to the workers, the VID insisted that they believed they had a case against one of them and would pursue it through the Labour Court, as they believed they had a chance of winning it.
The case is expected to be heard in a fortnight’s time.
The VID workers were charged with corruption and failing to obey lawful instructions and were fired.
They took their case to the Labour Court, which found their sacking to have been unlawful.
