The Chinese contractor working on the multi-million
expansion of the Hwange power station project is mired in fresh controversy
after laying off some of the workers for complaining against alleged exposure
to coronavirus.
Hydro-Sino Corporation allegedly launched a witch-hunt
after the Standard revealed that it had forced at least 400 workers to camp
at the site during the 21-day lockdown under risky conditions.
The workers complained that they feared contracting the
coronavirus because of poor hygiene and lack of social distancing as they
shared rooms, bathrooms and canteens.
After the exposè, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), which
contracted Sino, held a hastily arranged meeting with the latter’s management
to address the workers’ grievances, which also included long-standing
complaints about alleged abuse of employees by the Chinese management.
The Chinese, who are working on the US$1,4 billion
expansion of the Hwange Thermal Power Station involving the construction of
units 7 and 8 to add 600 megawatts to the national grid, have been at
loggerheads with their local employees since last year.
Matters came to a head early this month when the contractor
assembled most of its workforce to camp at the site to ensure that work
continued during the 21-day lockdown decreed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in
late March, in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease, also
known as Covid-19.
Reliable sources, however, said the meeting between the ZPC
management and Sino Hydro did no solve their problems as some employees were
immediately sent away and told they may not be recalled even after the
lockdown.
Affected workers were forced to complete forms showing that
they felt unsafe working on the site and were returning to their homes.
They were required to fill in their names, badge numbers
and work stations, but some said they completed the forms under duress.
“We were forced by our supervisor to fill in the forms.
After that, we were ordered to immediately pack our bags and go home,” one of
the affected employees said on condition of anonymity.
It could not be immediately established how many employees
were kicked out, but it emerged that the workers that were sharing matchbox
zinc shelters had been reduced from eight to four.
But the remaining workers said they were still working
extended hours, in contravention of local labour laws and International Labour
Organisation prescriptions.
“We start work at 7am and knock off at 9pm every day, but
are not paid overtime,” he added.
“Workers are scared to protest against the treatment
because they risk losing their jobs, while others are now resorting to selling
out their colleagues that are considered too vocal in return for favours from
the bosses.”
The workers said their Chinese bosses use corporal
punishment on them and often verbally abused them.
This publication established that Sino Hydro started
erecting a security fence on the site after allegations that some of the
workers were sneaking out of the camp to see their families at night.
The workers said management had also launched a witch-hunt
to weed out people suspected of leaking information to the media about
employees’ plight.
Fungai Simbine, the Sino Hydro workers’ union chairperson,
said employees feared for their lives as the company was not following
government or World Health Organisation recommendations to stop the spread of
the coronavirus.
Simbine said most workers opted to continue staying at the
crowded camp even though they felt their health was being compromised for fear
of losing their jobs.
“Those who opted to continue working during the lockdown
were taken without screening or testing for coronavirus and they say they are
scared they might be infected,” he said.
Simbine added that poor hygiene and overcrowding remained
their biggest worry with only 20 toilets available for the company’s 575-strong
workforce.
“The company only has 10 toilets shared by men and another
10 for women, but looking at the number of workers, which is close to 600, the
ablution facilities are not enough and they don’t get cleaned regularly,” he
added.
The Chinese management has suspended the wages of workers,
who remained at home during the lockdown that average $10.50 (less than US 25c)
per hour.
The Zimbabwe Construction and Allied Trade Workers’ Union
(ZCATWU), which represents Sino Hydro workers, has been pressing the Chinese to
address employee grievances since last year but to no avail.
ZCATWU says employees have died while on duty and others
suffered life-threatening injuries because they are not provided with
protective clothing.
The workers also complained of poor remuneration, use of
unapproved contract forms, unfair dismissal of employees, improper grading and
non-provision of payslips.
ZCATWU has threatened to go to court after the lockdown to
force the Chinese to respect workers’ rights and seek redress over employees’
exposure to Covid-19.
Fortune Nyamande, the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for
Human chairperson, castigated the company for failing to ensure the safety of
the employees.
“They are supposed to follow all the procedures recommended
in order to minimise contracting coronavirus,” Nyamande said.
“Those workers are from across the country, and if one
person is infected, then it will mean Hwange will become a hotspot.”
Hwange Central legislator Daniel Molokele has also called
on the government to intervene in the Sino Hydro labour row.
Zesa head of communications Fullard Gwasira ignored
questions sent to him.
Energy and Power Development minister Fortune Chasi
yesterday said the government will investigate the alleged abuse of ZPC
workers.
“This is clearly an operational issue and l am not familiar
with it, but if what workers are saying is happening it is totally improper,”
Chasi said.
“It is important that everyone conforms to what the law
says and what government has put in place to protect everyone against this
virus.
“On the incidences of staff being assaulted and insulted
and so forth, that is completely unacceptable.
“l will speak to ZPC so that they rectify the situation and
further investigate what more is happening there.
“So, by Tuesday we would have made some progress that you
can follow up on.” Standard
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