BOPEU records high workplace indiscipline amongst members
Chakalisa Dube | Tuesday December 13, 2022 06:00
She expressed her concern when addressing delegates at the union’s just-ended Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting in Palapye.
In her address, Mogwera explained that some members do not adhere to the code of good conduct set in the workplace, the Public Service Act and the Public Service Charter.
Most of the cases, according to her, include acts of absenteeism, misappropriation of funds, fraud, and other dismissible offences. Mogwera told The Monitor that between the reporting period of June 2021 and July 2022 the union recorded 301 cases of negligence of duty, misappropriation of funds, fraud and other dismissible offences by its members. “In all those cases, 152 were successfully dealt with by the union and there were no dismissals. There were 14 dismissals during the reporting period.
The remaining cases are at different stages. Some are still being dealt with by the union and respective employers. Some are with the labour department while others have reached the Industrial Court,” she said. She added: “From the 14 dismissals, five were from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. The dismissals were mostly for theft and fraud.
Parastatals recorded four dismissals that mostly emanated from the negligence of duty and willful dishonesty. Two dismissals were from the Ministry of Education and Skills Development while three other ministries recorded one case each.” Mogwera highlighted that of the 301 cases recorded by the union, 265 were from the central government whilst the rest were from parastatals. “As your leader, I have an ethical, legal, and moral duty to be brutally honest to you as members.
The leadership is concerned about the rate of misconduct at the workplace. I call upon all of our members to embrace and embody the values of our union in their everyday life,” Mogwera said at the CEC.
She also advised union members to constantly monitor and advise each other to avoid unnecessary conflicts with the employer, something that might ultimately lead to dismissals. Mogwera pointed out that it is difficult for the union to defend members in instances where there is a clear breach of the employment regulations.
According to her, the union is working on several initiatives to sensitise members on the importance of adhering to workplace rules and principles to reduce cases of misconduct.