ACCUSED OF EXPLOITING WORKERS

MANZINI - There seems to be serious tension between some Muslim employers and workers living and doing business in the country.
In fact, some Muslim employers who are doing business in the country are being accused of allegedly exploiting their fellow church members who are working for them. However, according to sources close to the matter, even emaSwati workers were not spared.

Some of the affected workers alleged that their Muslim bosses did not pay them on time, which is against the Islamic law and teachings. They said the Islamic law says employers should pay workers before their sweat can dry.
“Usually, when the payday approaches, the bosses would start accusing us of stealing their stock and money before making excuses that they do not have cash to pay our salaries,” they alleged.

Transferred

Again, the Muslim workers alleged that their bosses sometimes transferred part of their salaries to their families in their home countries, like India and pay it using Indian Rupees, which is about four times less than the Lilangeni.
“We do not have a lunch hour as we are not allowed to go to eat outside. We eat inside the businesses and if a customer walks in, we have to neglect our food to attend to the client,” they claimed.

Furthermore, they alleged that they were constantly under verbal abuse as their bosses usually called them names. They also alleged that when they tried to complain, their bosses threatened to cancel their work permits and make sure they were deported at their own costs.
“This is also against the Islamic law and teachings, which say employers should treat their workers like their own family members,” the Muslim workers said.

Illegally

As a result of the Muslim bosses’ alleged conduct, the affected workers alleged that some of their colleagues had left their work and were living in the country illegally. They alleged that others had illegally crossed the country’s borders to South Africa, where Muslim employers follow the laid-down labour laws.

In that regard, the affected workers warned emaSwati that they should not be fooled by the acts of Muslim bosses who go to pray at the Mosque now. They said this was because based on what they were allegedly doing to their workers in their businesses, their conduct made them hypocrites according to Islam.

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