By Own Correspondent

CARE workers from Zimbabwe, who allege they paid thousands of euros each to a recruiter to secure work permits in Ireland, have told a tribunal of living in “freezing” shared accommodation without their wages after the jobs they were promised failed to materialise.

Testifying to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) this week, one of the workers said she was threatened with having her work permit cancelled when she asked about going to another job she was offered.

Another said she was left without income for months and had to eventually leave a staff house when the landlord arrived, threatening to change the locks.

Shingirirai Chiwaridzo, Nombeko Hlabangana, Brenda Mubaiwa, Tatenda Ncube, Allen Phillip Ndhlovu, Nicola Sibanda, Nobuhle Sibanda and Agapao Munashe Zvihari are each pursuing complaints under the Payment of Wages Act 1991 against their former employer, Unity Healthcare Services Ltd.

The Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland (MRCI), which is representing the six women and two men, says they are owed months of unpaid wages each, plus repayment of sums allegedly charged to procure their work permits. The company is disputing the complaints.

Giving evidence to the WRC, the workers said they were approached in Zimbabwe and paid fees of between €2,000 and €3,600 to Unity Healthcare or one of its directors in 2022 or 2023.

Giving evidence, worker Nobuhle Sibanda said Unity Healthcare chief executive Londiwe Maphosa quoted her €1,000 to secure a work permit and informed her she would have to pay €3,000 in total when accommodation costs were factored in.

“I couldn’t raise the whole amount. I raised €2,600,” Ms Sibanda said in evidence. An offer letter, contract and non-disclosure agreement were sent to her after she wired the money to Ms Maphosa’s co-director in the firm, Bruce Magama.