Speaking in an interview with Mmegi yesterday the agents also claimed that Orinoco flouts labour laws especially on maternity leave, and other employee benefits. "When we go on sick leave, granted by a medical doctor, punitive measures like deductions on salaries at the end of month, are applied on us. When we are on maternity leave we are not paid monthly salaries," they charged. The employees also complained that they are not paid for working double shifts or working on holidays. According to Botswana labour laws, one should be paid a double rate for working on a holiday, but employees say they are paid the normal rate.
When contacted for comment, Orinoco general manager, Irish Johannes said the agents have contracts "except for the ones who work for a service line whose contract with us expired a while back". "We are still in discussions with the company in question about possible renewal of the contract, and we hope to reach an agreement soon. I would like to highlight that despite the fact that we have not been able to give them contracts, they are still eligible for every entitlement as required by law, for example leave, severance pay and others," she said. The agents have also complained that although their work, which entails being on the phone servicing clients, affects their health they do not enjoy any medical aid cover. But the general manager explained that medical aid is a benefit that a company chooses to give its employees if the management can afford to do so. "It is not a requirement by law," she said.
