Kambwili’s workers complain

Kambwili’s workers complain

Saturday, June 11, 2011

 
By ALEX NJOVU
 
WORKERS at Mwamona Engineering Enterprises, a Kitwe-based company owned by Patriotic Front (PF) Roan member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili, have accused their employer of victimisation and illegal dismissal.
The workers have complained that management has allegedly effected a 35 percent salary deduction while some of the workers have been dismissed without following procedure.
Mr Kambwili said he owns the company and confirmed that management has fired some workers for allegedly staging an illegal strike.
But some of the workers said in Kitwe yesterday that Mr Kambwili’s company is allegedly abusing their rights and called on Government to intervene.
Their spokesperson, Anthony Mwila, said some workers have been fired for allegedly opposing management decision to effect a 35 percent salary deduction.
“We reported the matter to the labour office in Kitwe and Mr Kambwili and his partners were summoned. It is unfair that the man who talks ill of Chinese investment in Zambia can today treat his fellow Zambians so badly.
“Our colleagues have been fired after they opposed the deductions from their salaries. We are appealing to Government to address this injustice,” Mr Mwila said.
He said the workers are demanding that management pays them the money it has been deducting from their salaries for three months.
“We cannot believe that a man who strongly condemns Chinese investment in Zambia can treat us like this.
These are the same politicians vying to take over government. We are disappointed with Mr Kambwili because he is supposed to protect workers,” he said.
Mr Mwila accused the management of Mwamona Engineering Enterprises of being insensitive to the plight of the workers.
But Mr Kambwili said some workers were fired after they went on an illegal strike.
“I have eight companies, but I don’t run them on a daily basis. They are independent. They have their own managers. Ask those workers if they have seen me in Mwamona Engineering Enterprises premises. I don’t go there because there are people who run the compnaies on a daily basis. My main interest is dividends at the end of the year,” he said.
Mr Kambwili urged the workers to follow procedure when airing their grievances and referred queries to the Mwamona Engineering Enterprises management.