BY JAMES MUTASA

Meikles Guard Services has been forced to pay Lovemore Jack his gratuity despite initially refusing, arguing that the former employee had not returned uniforms when he resigned two years ago.

Aggrieved by the decision of his former employer, of refusing to pay him his gratuity regardless of working for them for over 7 years, Jack referred the matter to the National Employment Council for the Security Industry.

In a statement written to the Designated Agent by the Meikles Guard Service Human Resources Manager, Innocent Paradza, the Guard Services Company said; “the claimant handed over part of the company uniform and he is still holding on to over half of the assets with him that is jersey, raincoat, boots, beret, shirt, trousers, lanyard and whistle.”

‘Gratuity,’ Paradza wrote, ‘to be processed on returning all company assets as highlighted.’

On the other hand Jack told Patience Chitsika the Designated Agent of the NEC for the security industry  that, ‘the allegation that l still hold jersey, raincoat, boots, beret, shirt, trousers, lanyard and whistle is an erroneous belief simply because l received a recommendation letter from the Guard Services on the 15^th of November 2023.’

“I was employed by Meikles Guard Service in 2014 and it is when l received some of the cited assets and for over 7 years I used the same raincoat which l was given the day l was employed. How can a raincoat lasts for more than 7 years?” Jack had argued.

Jack further explained to Chitsika that it is impossible to be given a recommendation letter by Meikles Guard Services without submitting their assets.

Part of the certificate of settlement written by Chitsika reads; “parties agreed that Jack is owed cash in lieu of gratuity which is subject to statutory deductions. Payment will be made by 30 June 2024”.