PSMI workers appeal to presidium over unpaid salar...

PSMI workers appeal to presidium over unpaid salaries

Zim Now Writer

Premier Service Medical Investments employees, who have been holding prayer vigils at PSMI’s Parkview Hospital in Harare since last Friday, demanding their outstanding salaries, have appealed to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to help break the impasse with their employer.

On Monday evening, the workers were singing Christian hymns, praying and preaching to comfort each other hoping for a positive outcome.

PSMI national workers committee chairperson Munyaradzi Nharaunda said they had exhausted other channels to communicate with authorities, including writing to Premier Services Medical Aid Society acting managing director Nixjoen Mapesa.

“We don’t want to fight the organisation, not at all. We just want our monies. We are owed four months’ salary, fired workers never received their packages and those retrenched are yet to receive their money. And the employer still expects us to report for duty without fail,” Nharaunda said.

“We are, therefore, pleading for His Excellency and Chiwenga’s intervention. We called for a meeting with the MD (managing director), but he said he is not in a capacity to do that. So, if he cannot assist, the President and the VP may help us.”

Mapesa said he was aware that PSMI employees were angry over their outstanding salaries.

“It’s very true that they have not been paid for the past months. It’s quite true and I (understand) their anger, but there is a lot of misinformation. I know that there are a lot of emotions,” Mapesa said.

Recently, the company was forced to suspend operations temporarily owing to several challenges that include funding, which have seen it failing to pay employees since mid-last year.

PSMI, a subsidiary of PSMAS, runs a chain of hospitals, clinics and laboratories with 126 service centres across the country.