BY JAMES MUTASA

Muchandida Watambwa a former employee of Jusprud Turbo Chargers (Pvt) Ltd recently reported his former employer to the civil court for failing to pay him his terminal benefits.

Part of the summons written by Watambwa directed to Justin Majaya who is the Jusprud director reads, “I hereby demand the sum of US$500 five hundred United States of America dollars or its equivalent being the sum owed Plaintiff by Defendant. The total amount was supposed to be paid on or before 31 January 2024. But Jusprud neglected to pay the debt. Kindly attend to pay the same within seven working days from the receiving date of the summons”.

Watambwa told The Worker that parties had mutually terminated the contract of employment following the unilateral reduction of his salary by the employer.

“We agreed to terminate my contract of employment as a result of an unfair salary reduction by the employer without consulting me. According to the mutual termination of the employer-employee relationship entered into by the parties, Jusprud was supposed to pay me US$500 in 2 equal installments that is US$250 on or before the 22^nd of December 2024 with the remaining balance payable on or before 31^st of January 2025,” said Watambwa.

But Majaya refuted the claim by Watambwa that he had deliberately neglected to pay his former employee his terminal benefits as agreed.

“We mutually agreed to terminate Muchandida Watambwa’s contract of employment and we will pay him US$500 as terminal benefits and Jusprud will do that,” Majaya said.

“It is very unfortunate that we were supposed to pay all his monies by the 31^st of January 2025,’ Majaya went on, ‘sadly our cash flows did not allow that. We ask Watambwa to withdraw his summons and give us only a little time to gather his monies. Our business is very low,” said Majaya.

Watambwa pointed out that Jusprud had acted in bad faith and his attempts to get his money ended in vain hence the referral of the matter to the civil court for remedy.