HARARE – The National Employment Council for the Electronics, Communications, Radio, TV Manufacturing and Allied Industry has approved an application by the Zimbabwe Newspapers Group (Zimpapers) to place employees at its television unit on short-time working, overriding objections from the workers’ committee that the arrangement was unlawful.

The determination, signed by NEC general secretary Patience Kavuru on April 29, authorises Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN) to operate on a three-weeks-on, one-week-off rotation for two months, effective May 1 to June 30.

The arrangement reduces affected employees’ remuneration to 75 percent of their normal salary.

The NEC said the measures were intended to “alleviate the financial difficulties currently being faced by the company.”

Workers’ representatives had appeared before the NEC’s exemptions committee to oppose the application, arguing that the proposed arrangement was inconsistent with the Labour Act and Statutory Instrument 247 of 2006.

Their objections were grounded in the principle of legality, the total deduction principle, and statutory limits on remuneration deductions under short-time arrangements.

The Workers Council also raised concerns about the multiplicity of roles already carried by employees at what it described as an already understaffed operation, questioned the clarity of the company’s financial disclosures, and challenged management structures at ZTN.

The workers said management had failed to present a credible roadmap for turning the broadcaster around during the period of reduced working hours.

The NEC proceeded to grant the application after hearing submissions from both sides.

Zimpapers, the state-owned media group that owns Star FM and publishes The Herald and Sunday Mail among other titles, has been under sustained financial pressure. ZTN broadcasts on Dstv but limited advertising has led the TV channel to be subsidised by other Zimpapers divisions