Harare — Air Zimbabwe should reinstate more than 400 workers it retrenched in August, the Labour Court has ruled.

The Labour Court last week trashed the national airline's urgent chamber application against the arbitration award last week. Senior Labour Court president Andrew Mutema dismissed Air Zimbabwe's urgent chamber application for review.

"The urgent chamber application for review be and is hereby dismissed with costs," read part of the judgment. Ministry of Labour and Social Services retrenchment board also wrote to the airline turning down the request to retrench the workers saying the airline should comply with the arbitration award.

"The retrenchment board noted that an arbitral award nullifying the retrenchment was issued. "Accordingly the retrenchment board cannot proceed with the matter and refers it back to yourselves," read the letter.

The national airline did not apply for stay of execution explaining why it was unable to reengage the retrenched workers. The national airline's case should wait in the queue like all other cases since Labour Court cases are dealt with on a first come first served basis.

Serious cases can be allowed to jump the waiting list. This means that the national airline must reinstate the workers as was ordered by the arbitration tribunal.

Mr Mutema said the airline should reinstate the workers as they are still legally employed. "Air Zimbabwe did not apply for stay of execution and it means they are obliged to reinstate the workers forthwith because the arbitration award still stands.

"Their urgent chamber application was dismissed," he said. Air Zimbabwe chief executive officer Dr Peter Chikumba recently said the national airline was going ahead with the retrenchments despite the arbitration award.

"The management and board are aware of the procedures laid down in the Labour Act and these will be followed until the process is completed. "We respect the law and we shall follow the law," he said.

The retrenched workers are still in the employ of the national airline although they are not going to work. Air Zimbabwe has said that it needs US$4 million to pay the retrenchment packages.