By Own Correspondent

LISTED coal miner, Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) has notified its workers that the code of conduct has been suspended indefinitely to pave the way for the company’s expansion strategy.

The latest move is likely to draw fire from labour activists who have for long seen such well-established parastatals as the epitome of best practices.

The shocking message is contained in a letter gleaned by The Worker,  signed by Hwange Colliery administrator Munashe Shava and assistant administrator Mutsa Mollie Jean Remba, a partner at Dube, Manikai and Hwacha Legal Practitioners.

Following the inception of the Business Improvement Plan (BIP) which is implementing the Scheme of Reconstruction by the Administrator, all employees of HCCL are urged to take note of this important notice.

“In terms of section 28 of the Reconstruction of State Indebted Entities Act [Chapter 24:27] (the Act), the Labour Act shall no longer be used for human resources matters in the company. However, during the subsistence of the administration . . . the company respects the employees’ administrative rights and wishes to advise the employees that termination of employment will only be implemented, as necessary . . .”

“The employees will be duly notified and be provided with the reasons for retrenchment. Termination (of contracts) will be on terms considered fair given the performance of the employee, available funds and principles of natural justice,” reads the letter in part.

Efforts to get a comment from the National Mine Workers Union were fruitless at the time of going to print.