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Zimbabwe: 168 former RBZ employees victorious in employment dispute

168 ex-RBZ workers win labour row

Rédaction Africa Links 24 with dayton
Published on 2024-02-04 22:24:29

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has finally been ordered to pay salary arrears to a group of 168 retrenched former security officers, laying to rest a 15-year-old labour dispute. The salary arrears, which totaled over two years of unpaid wages, were accrued between February 2009 and September 2011. The legal battle over the definition of the employment relationship between the security officers and the central bank has finally come to a close with this ruling.

The dispute between the former security officers and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe dates back to the early 2000s when the security officers were retrenched from their positions. Following their retrenchment, the former employees took legal action against the central bank, claiming that they were owed salary arrears for the period between February 2009 and September 2011. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe disputed the claims, arguing that the security officers were not entitled to the unpaid wages as they were no longer in its employment at the time the arrears accrued. This sparked a prolonged legal battle that lasted for over a decade.

After years of legal wrangling, the matter was finally brought before the courts for resolution. In a landmark ruling, the courts sided with the former security officers, ordering the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to pay the salary arrears owed to the group of 168 retrenched employees. The ruling put an end to years of uncertainty and financial hardship for the former security officers, who had been fighting for their unpaid wages for over a decade.

The significance of the ruling cannot be understated. It represents a victory for the former security officers and a vindication of their long and hard-fought legal battle. It also serves as a reminder to employers of the importance of fulfilling their obligations to their employees, even after their employment relationships have come to an end. The ruling sends a clear message that employers cannot shirk their responsibilities towards their former employees, and that justice will ultimately prevail for those who have been wronged.

In addition to ordering the payment of the salary arrears, the courts also clarified the definition of the employment relationship between the former security officers and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. The ruling established that the security officers were indeed entitled to the unpaid wages, despite no longer being in the central bank’s employment at the time the arrears accrued. This clarification of the legal relationship between the parties sets an important precedent for future similar cases, providing clarity and guidance on the rights of employees in similar situations.

The resolution of this long-standing dispute is a significant milestone for the former security officers and a demonstration of the effectiveness of the legal system in upholding the rights of employees. It serves as a powerful example of the importance of standing up for one’s rights in the face of adversity and demonstrates that justice can prevail even in the most protracted and complex legal battles.

In conclusion, the ruling ordering the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to pay the salary arrears to the group of 168 retrenched former security officers represents a triumph of justice after a 15-year-old labour dispute. The resolution of this case not only brings closure to the former employees who have been fighting for their unpaid wages for over a decade but also sets an important precedent for similar cases in the future. It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of upholding the rights of employees and the effectiveness of the legal system in delivering justice.

Read Original article on The Herald

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