Pula Steel extends employees� unpaid leave
Tuesday, August 02, 2016
Pula Steel was ordered to pay the employees
This is despite the fact that the parties went for mediation at the labour department early this week where Mmegi Business is informed that Pula Steel was ordered to pay the employees as it was found to be in contravention of Section 16 of the Employment Act.
The company sent its employees on a one-month unpaid leave at the beginning of July after it was ordered to close down for failure to comply with the set safety standards to instal pollution control system by the Department of Waste Management and Pollution Control in June. Corporate Services director, Brian Mosenene confirmed the extension of the unpaid leave. He said the extension was necessary because though they have completed the installation of a pollution control system to comply with the necessary safety standards, they do not know when the Department of Pollution Control and Waste Management will inspect and give a green light for the plant to resume production. “If we allow employees to return to work now we will face a situation where we cannot afford to pay them,” he said.
Acting Agriculture Minister, Edwin Dikoloti, is right in saying opening an export-ready facility whilst Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is still spreading would risk getting the whole country blacklisted before a single carcass leaves the door.A ban like that would break the already stressed nation. So, the postponement, painful as it is, is the right thing to do. The local economy is being squeezed from both ends. FMD has already slammed the door...