By Own Correspondent

Struggling retail clothing chainstore, Powersales is underfire from its employees following a management decision to offset outstanding three-month salaries with sewing machines.

Powersales workers told the media that  management unilaterally made a decision to give them sewing machines to offset their back pay without their consent.

One of the workers said they feared that they would go home empty-handed as the company has hinted at closing the remaining branches.

“They have literally closed after deciding to send us home for six months unpaid leave, but they owe us salaries backdated to July. They decided to give all of us one sewing machine each to offset the balances. We are supposed to be getting US$110 per month and each machine costs about US$280,” said one employee on condition of anonymity.

Earlier this year in March Powersales served a number of its employees with retrenchment notices but the process did not materialise.

The employees have since approached the ministry of Labour for recourse against unfair labour practices by their employer.

Power sales director of operations, Fanuel Mahachi, said the business was struggling.

“We have so far closed six shops this year that have become unprofitable,” Mahachi said. We have 35 permanent workers and those with leave days go home on paid leave, but those without they go without pay.”

The company is facing harsh competition from cheap imports and informal traders who smuggle goods into the country for resale at cheap prices.