The Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment, Mr Filipe Bole raised concerns on the increasing number of employment grievances reported to the ministry on non-payment of wages to workers across all sectors throughout the country.
He reminded employers of their moral and corporate social responsibilities under the reformed labour laws.
Especially, the provisions of the Employment Relations Promulgation (ERP) 2007 and its subsidiary laws, which require employers to honor their obligations in providing workers fair wages and benefits accorded to them and that all deductions from wages were authorised by workers.
Mr Bole affirmed that under the ERP, employers were to pay right wages and provide other benefits such as overtime pay, annual leave, sick leave, bereavement leave and maternity leave in accordance with relevant Collective Agreements or Wages Regulation Orders.
However, for unionised workers, any Collective Agreement cannot provide conditions of employment below the minimum labour standards required under the ERP and advised all workers to be familiar and well versed with their rights and responsibilities under the reformed labour laws.
The minister admonished employers on the requirement to provide regular interval payment of wages as agreed within the contract period, the provision of proper wage statements to workers, proper wages and time record to ensure the protection of wages for workers and good human resource management practice by the employers.
Mr Bole said the Labour Ministry was reviewing its standard operating procedures to further strengthen its Labour Compliance Service in order to be more effective in its oversight role for both workers and employers.
He encouraged employers to modernise their business processes to ensure payments of correct wages to workers were provided in a timely manner and reminded them to use modern banking facilities in the transferring of wages into the worker’s bank or credit union account.
Also, all employers are required to provide written or electronic statement setting out information in the makeup of wages, deductions made and period of wages.
“These safeguards on wages for workers, including the threshold deductions, are consistent with relevant ILO conventions and good management practice” Mr Bole said
He appealed to employers to pay decent wages to workers who have significantly contributed to the productivity and profitability of their enterprises in good and bad times.
Employers who honour their commitments to workers during this period of challenging financial and economic period can be sure of sustainability.