Delta Diaries dragged to court over salary arrears
Amanda Dichabe | Wednesday March 4, 2015 11:48
Pelonomi Asele and the other ex-workers filed an urgent application with the Industrial Court last week alleging failure by Delta Dairies to provide them with work from July last year to date. They also alleged failure by the company to pay their salaries.
According to court papers, the matter was first referred to the District Labour Office in January 15 this year for mediation on February 4. However, it was adjourned to February 20 as per the request of the company.
The labour office issued a certificate of failure to settle and the workers proceeded to file an urgent application with the Industrial Court. The employees requested that the matter should be treated as urgent noting that the respondent is not in operation and that the plant is closed. They stated that although they have not been formally dismissed from employment, they are not going to work daily because the chief executive officer stopped them from coming to work.
“There is a possibility that the respondent may be liquidating the company as we heard discussions that some machines and other utilities were attached to some banks,” Asele said.
It is understood that the workers got their last salaries in April last year. “We are suffering emotionally, socially, and financially as we do not have money to care for our families basic needs like paying school fees, rent, groceries and bank loans,” she said.
According to the employees, in August 2014 when liquidation started, Delta Dairies owner, Dr Howard Sigwele called a meeting with staff to address them about their payments as advances. “He promised to pay us a week after liquidation day. We want to understand the main reason why Dr Sigwele paid only those who were cleaning on the 22nd of December and left others behind,” Asele said.
The employees stated that their employer was supposed to have contacted them or communicated a date with them when he was going to let them know when they are going to be paid. They complained that they have not heard from the employer or his lawyers since February.
The employees therefore want the Industrial Court to order the company to pay them outstanding salaries from July last year to January 2015.
Meanwhile the troubled company was recently dragged to the Lobatse High Court by its creditors and put under provisional liquidation, following a court petition.