TEXTILE WORKERS BACK, MOST REFUSE TO SIGN FORMS

NHLANGANO – On strike textile workers returned to work yesterday but it was not a walk in the park for many.

Some of the workers were made to sign forms which sought to establish why they had been absent from work for about five weeks. Most of the workers refused to sign the forms when the management of the textile firms requested them to do so. In fact, most workers remained outside their workplaces, made to sign the forms and turned back. It was established from the workers that while they were standing outside, some were working inside. It was said that most of those working were those who had been going to work secretly, while others were on strike.

Salaries

For a worker to start working, they were told that they needed to sign the forms before they received their clock-in  cards, which were also used to calculate their hours of work to determine their salaries. About 8 000 workers from the different firms in Nhlangano were standing outside the firms waiting to sign the forms for the better part of the day yesterday. It was said that those who were turned back were told to return today. The employees explained that the forms were questioning them why they had been absent from work and if they were forced or threatened not to go to work. Further, the forms also questioned what the company should do to them for absenting themselves from work and if they knew that the law gave the employer the right to suspend them for not coming to work without a reason or a sick note.

The employees shared that some of them were allowed in and told to resume work but were allegedly recalled to go out and accused of being among those who were intimidating other workers who were going to work during the strike. Information sourced was that those employees were told to return today as they were allegedly informed, that they might lose their jobs if found guilty. This was conveyed by shop stewards and three leaders of the Amalgamated Trade Union of Swaziland (ATUSWA).

Contacted

It was further said that the workers who were active during the strike were allegedly told to go home and would be contacted. When called for comment, FTM Garments Public Relations Manager Samuel Mdluli confirmed that employees signed forms before they were allowed back at work. He stated that some workers were working by noon. He did not want to commit, that some were told to return to work today. He said he would only confirm that today at 7am, having seen the figures of employees who were working. “What I know is that all workers were told to return to work tomorrow (today),” he said.  Also, there was police presence in all the textile firms. Some were armed with  tear gas canisters.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: