Mqondisi Dube
24 November 2008
Selebi-Phikwe — Forty-one former workers of a textile firm in Selebi-Phikwe have won a case of unfair dismissal against the company.
The dismissed workers told Monitor that they had served the company for nearly five years when their employer dismissed them. They said they were not paid their severance packages.
The workers approached former Botswana Federation of Trade Unions' chief executive, Ontlametse Kgang, who volunteered to prepare a case for them. Kgang said Selebi - Phikwe West MP, Kavis Kario, appealed to him to assist the dismissed workers. After the workers took the case to the Industrial Court, the employer, Dinesh failed to enter a defence. A last minute effort by the company to enter a defence on Monday failed, resulting, in the workers being awarded two months wages.
Kgang said the judgment had exposed the ill-treatment and exploitation of low-income earners. He added that female employees, who make the majority of workers in the textile industry, were prone to abuse.
"I am concerned at the ill-treatment of workers particularly in the textile industry. It is expensive for workers to fight for their rights as most of them earn low wages," Kgang said. He said the employer did not respect the court as he did not respond to the workers' submissions. Efforts to broker a solution by civic leaders also failed to bear fruit.
However, Kgang believes the workers' victory has shown that justice prevails, regardless of one's social status. But he is concerned that the severance package has been eroded by inflation.
Ex-Dinesh employee, Nniniah Selebogo, hailed the judgment and said she was relieved that the issue has been finalised. She commended the political leadership and Kgang for lending support to industrial class workers.
Maditshabo Makgetho, who is still unemployed since her dismissal was also elated at their victory, adding that she has been struggling to make ends meet without any income. Badiri Molome said justice had finally been done.
"We were not happy when we were dismissed but at least justice has been done. We are grateful for the support we got from the political leadership and Kgang who volunteered his services," Molome said. She added that it was devastating to be fired from work at a time when gratuity was almost due.
Meanwhile, another 142 workers dismissed by the company are now contesting the decision in court.
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