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The Zimbabweans, who constitute a majority of the work force at White Dove Garment Industries, are now idle because the factory has stopped production, due to insufficient work. The workers say they have to extend their stay in Botswana to get their wages on August 27 after the intervention of the labour department. Their spokesman, Muzingi Dhobha claimed that the company owed them unpaid wages from April. They complain that the company does not offer them terminal benefits. They claim to be paid a standard P540 per month, regardless of trade and experience. All the workers are artisans.
Between now and October, the workers will know whether they still have jobs at the factory when production is expected to resume. But they do not have written contracts.
White Dove management has admitted that they owe the workers wages for August, but refuted claims that this dates back further. A member of management, Maria Kereng told Mmegi that the wages would be paid on August 27 following an agreement between the company and the employees. She explained that production was halted at the company because the shipping of fabric from Taiwan was delayed. “We lost one client recently because our business is seasonal. We export our fabric to the United States so if we miss a season, we have to wait for the next one,” she said.
Kedumetse Lepang, the District Immigration Officer in Ramotswa, asked the Zimbabweans to report to his office tomorrow to look into extending their stay. He advised them to sign written contracts with prospective employers in future.
White Dove Garment Industries is one of the companies that benefit from the African Growth Opportunity Act. The company’s managing director, Joel Kereng, earlier this year bemoaned the lack of funding from commercial banks even with letters of credit when the Minister of Trade and Industry, Jacob Nkate visited the firm.
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