via Mpofu’s collapsed bank ignores workers – NewZimbabwe 16 January 2015
EMPLOYEES of the liquidated Allied Bank, owned by transport minister Obert Mpofu, have been barred from entering any of the branches, putting into jeopardy negotiations over retrenchment packages.
A teller at a branch in Harare’s Southerton industrial area said since the bank surrendered its operating licence to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe two weeks ago, workers at all branches have been denied access to the premises.
The bank voluntarily surrendered its licence after failing to meet the RBZ stipulated US$25 million capitalisation requirement.
“Our challenge now is that we do not know what the management is doing regarding our fate and how they are going to process our retrenchment packages as there has been total silence on this,” he said.
Other employees said several attempts to contact senior management on the way forward had been unsuccessful as bank premises across the country where closed.
Allied Bank employed about 250 workers and they are all expected to lose their jobs.
The development comes at a time it has been revealed that some 1 000 workers lost their jobs in the financial services sector last year.
Efforts to get a comment from management were unsuccessful but the bank’s chief executive, Florence Gowora recently said staff remained employees of the bank until its liquidation process is completed.
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