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Urgent Chamber Applications

This article is based on Chapter 3 of the “Contemporary Employment Law in Zimbabwe, First Edition”.

1.1.         Introduction

The Labour Court plays a crucial role in protecting the rights of workers and ensuring that labour laws are upheld. In some cases, urgent chamber applications may need to be made to the court to address pressing labour issues.[1] An urgent chamber application is a request made to the court for an urgent hearing of a matter that cannot wait for the normal court process. The position regarding urgent applications is outlined in Document Support Centre [Pvt] Ltd v Mapuvire[2] as follows:

“Urgent applications are those where, if the courts fail to act, applicants may well be within their rights to suggest dismissively to the court that it should not bother to act subsequently, as the position would have become irreversible to the prejudice of the applicant.”

Such applications are thus usually made in cases where there is a risk of irreparable harm or where there is a need for urgent relief. Urgent chamber applications are as a result dealt with expeditiously.

1.2.         The Relevant rule

Rule 18 outlines what must happen if a party is facing an urgent labour dispute and they feel compelled to urgently approach the Labour Court for relief. A party is required to apply to the court and indicate that the matter is urgent.[3] The application must be accompanied by an affidavit in which the applicant outlines the urgency[4] of their dispute.[5] If a lawyer is representing the applicant, it is expected that a certificate of urgency is filed by the lawyer. Once an urgent matter has been received by the Registrar, the rules require that the matter be brought to the attention of the judge.[6]

A judge may then direct that the application be served on the Respondent(s) upon receiving the application from the Registrar.[7] Rule 18 (5) is quite robust as it allows a judge to ensure that a matter is heard in a manner that the judge considers appropriate. The provision is in our view more robust and highly suits the labour dispute resolution process as it ensures that disputes are resolved as soon as practicable in tandem with the court’s position Document Support Centre [Pvt] Ltd v Mapuvire cited above.

1.3.         What constitutes urgency?

What constitutes urgency has been defined and elaborated by the courts.[8] It entails that the Applicant must not delay in the enforcement of their rights. This can best be explained by the South African case of Workforce Staffing (Pty) Ltd v Sadan and Others in which the employer had to hire a private investigator to ascertain if its former employees were violating a restraint of trade agreement entered between the parties. Immediately after the violation was confirmed the Applicant sought recourse on an urgent basis. The court recognized the urgency of the matter under that circumstance.[9] It also recognised that a restraint of trade enforcement is generally an urgent matter.

It is crucial to note that urgent chamber applications should only be made in cases where there is a genuine need for urgent relief.[10] The court will not grant such applications if they are frivolous or vexatious. It is also essential to ensure that all the necessary documents and evidence are provided to the court when making such applications.

In Secretary for Higher and Tertiary Education v College Lecturers Association of Zimbabwe & 14 Others,[11] the court argued that there was no urgency in the matter because the applicant was aware of a judgement that became the subject of urgency for more than a year. Prior knowledge that a matter is urgent and not doing anything about it removes the urgency of the case. Urgency that is self-created by the applicant will not be supported by the courts. In Jiba v Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Others (2010) 31 ILJ 112 (LC) paragraph 18, it was remarked that “it is equally trite that an applicant is not entitled to rely on an urgency that is self-created when seeking a deviation from the rules”.

Further, it is noted that an urgent application does not work where there is a proper alternative remedy available. In Maphalle v National Heritage Council and Others,[12] the Labour Court of South Africa dismissed an urgent application on the basis that the applicant had an alternative remedy in the form of unfair dismissal proceedings.

Prejudice against the applicant is not the only factor that may allow for the granting of an urgent application. It has been held that the urgency must not only come from prejudice that the applicant may suffer. The court must be put in a position where it is aware that the matter cannot wait.[13]

1.4. Circumstances that may warrant an urgent application.[14]

There are several situations where an urgent chamber application may be an appropriate procedure to make use of in the Labour Court of Zimbabwe. Each case will depend on its circumstances, but arguably, the following circumstances may warrant the procedure of an urgent chamber application:

  1. Relief that is Interdictory or declaratory in Nature

An interdict is an order granted by the court to prevent a party from doing something. The Labour Court is not statutorily allowed to grant interdicts or declaratory orders in the manner provided for in the High Court Act. This does not however preclude the court from issuing relief that is interdictory and declaratory in nature.[15] In the labour context, interdictory and declaratory reliefs may be used to prevent an employer from acting against an employee in a manner that may be harmful or discriminatory.[16] An employee who has been unfairly dismissed may seek relief to prevent the employer from replacing him or her before the dispute has been resolved. In the same vein, the employer may want to urgently stop an employee from working for a competitor in violation of a restraint of trade agreement.[17] Every case will depend on its facts.

Urgent reinstatement

In some cases, an employee may seek urgent reinstatement if they have been unfairly dismissed or suspended from work. This may be necessary if the employee is facing financial hardship or if there is a risk of irreparable harm. In such cases, an urgent chamber application may be made to the court to seek an order for immediate reinstatement pending the finalisation of the dispute.

Urgent payment orders

An urgent payment order is a request that can be urgently made to the court for an order to compel an employer to pay outstanding wages or benefits owed to an employee. This may be necessary if the employee is facing financial hardship or if there is a risk of irreparable harm. An urgent chamber application may be made to the court to seek an order for immediate payment pending the finalization of the dispute.

 Urgent injunctions

An injunction is an order granted by the court to prevent a party from doing something or to compel them to do something. In the labour context, injunctions are often used to prevent an employer from taking action that may be harmful or discriminatory towards an employee. For example, an employee who has been subjected to sexual harassment may seek an injunction to prevent the employer from continuing such conduct. Further, an employee may urgently want to compel a LO or a DA to finalise a dispute.

1.5.         Bottom line

Urgent chamber applications play a crucial role in ensuring that urgent labour issues are addressed promptly by the Labour Court of Zimbabwe. These applications should only be made in cases where there is a genuine need for urgent relief and all necessary documents and evidence should be provided to the court. The court will deal with such applications expeditiously to ensure that justice is served.


[1]              In Dilwin Investments [Pvt] Ltd v Jopa Enterprises Co Ltd HH 116/98 the court said: “A party who brings proceedings urgently gains a considerable advantage over persons whose disputes are being dealt with in the normal course of events. This preferential treatment is only extended where good cause can be shown for treating one litigant differently from most litigants. For instance, where, if it is not afforded, the eventual relief will be hollow because of the delay in obtaining it.”

[2]              Document Support Centre [Pvt] Ltd v Mapuvire 2006 [2] ZLR 240 [H].

[3]              Rule 18(1) of the Labour Court Rules, 2018.

[4]              The importance of an affidavit in urgent applications was explained in Solidarity obo Members and Others v SEESA (PTY) Ltd (J 37/22) [2022] ZALCJHB 111 wherein the South African Labour Court noted that a case of urgency must be shown in the founding affidavit failure of which the application must fail.

[5]              Rule 18(2) of the Labour Court Rules, 2018.

[6]              Rule 18(3) of the Labour Court Rules, 2018.

[7]              Rule 18(4) of the Labour Court Rules, 2018.

[8]              See Kalayi Sikhaphakhapha Njini & Berthilde Juliet Njini v Solwayo Ngwenya and Bulawayo City Council HB 190/11 where it was held that: “The court can only exercise its discretion in determining the urgency of the matter at hand and that discretion can only be exercised on the basis of facts.”

[9]              See Workforce Staffing (Pty) Ltd v Sadan and Others (J488/23) [2023] ZALCJHB 107 on paragraph 13 wherein the court observed that: “Clearly, the applicant did not rest on its laurels when its letter to the third respondent was not favoured with the response. It went ahead to contract the services of the private investigator and his findings enabled it to launch this application. In my view, the respondent’s contention that urgency has been squandered by the dilatory conduct on the part of the applicant is devoid of merit. I, accordingly, accept that the matter is urgent and deal with it as such.”

[10]             Document Support Centre [Pvt] Ltd v Mapuvire 2006 [2] ZLR 240 [H].

[11]             Secretary for Higher and Tertiary Education v College Lecturers Association of Zimbabwe & 14 Others LC/H/547/13.

[12]             Maphalle v National Heritage Council and Others (J 929 / 2022) [2022] ZALCJHB 99.

[13]             See Dexprint Investments (Pvt) Ltd v Ace Property and Investments HH 120/02.

[14]             We have deliberately used the word “may” in this subsection because the scenarios we discuss herein are hypothetical but not necessarily remote.

[15]             In TN Harlequin Luxaire Limited V Mberikunashe Masvimbo and 14 Others SCB 84-22 it was held: “While s 14 of the High Court Act captures this remedy in its broadest and classical form as a “gentle order” which may be issued with or without any consequential relief, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the Labour Court in its daily operations does routinely issue declaratory orders, holding, for example, that an employee has been wrongfully dismissed or certain actions constitute unfair labour practices and then proceeding to grant consequential relief.” (Own Emphasis).

[16]             In Chris Stylianou (2) Fred Driver and Sons (Private) Limited (3) D.R. Hendry (Private) Limited v Moses Mubita and 25 Others SC 7/17 it was argued that the Labour Court of Zimbabwe being a creature of statute does not have the powers to issue an interdict.

[17]             See Workforce Staffing (Pty) Ltd v Sadan and Others discussed above.

634 Views

BONUSES, AND BONUS PAYMENT IN ZIMBABWE: EXPLAINING THE KEY LABOUR LAW ASPECTS

Introduction

In 2015 there was an announcement that bonus payments for government employees would be suspended for two years.[3] After the pronouncement, there was an outcry from the government employees who did not take the suspension of the bonus lightly.[4] A strike action was threatened.[5] The then-president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe had to intervene and announced that there was a procedural irregularity which had led to the announcement.[6] The presidential intervention, then resulted in the payment of the bonus and resultantly pacified the government employee relations at that time.

Every year in December issues to do with the Christmas bonus, or, as it is usually referred to, the 13th cheque become topical. To several employees, an extra month’s pay represents an opportunity to get extra income to spend during the festive holidays that incorporate Christmas and New Year’s Eve. To those who receive this 13th Cheque, there is no doubt that it brings joy to them and their families.

The economic climate prevailing in Zimbabwe may not allow several companies to pay an extra month’s worth of wages as a bonus when they struggle with normal wages and salaries. This was the case in 2017 when it was reported that EMCOZ, the largest employer representative body announced that employers were not going to pay bonuses for that year.[7] The position was also not taken lightly by the employees who indicated that “any attempts to deny them the benefit will be met with various actions, including court intervention.”

What is also topical during the festive season period is that some employers might have been paying the 13th cheque religiously and may also become reluctant for one reason or another to stop paying the bonus.[8] This was the case of Rodwell Jariremombe and Others v NSSA HH 402/2018 wherein NSSA decided not to pay a bonus that it had religiously paid in the past. Such instances can result in costly and highly emotional labour disputes.

The issue of bonuses like any other pay-related issue is an emotional one and it can lead to serious labour relations challenges. As illustrated by the events that have happened in the past in our country, the payment of bonuses, if not properly handled, can result in a poor labour relations climate in employment establishments. Our sincere belief is that most of the challenges surrounding the issue of bonuses and their payment can be resolved if employers and employers are equipped with the legal knowledge that forms the legal basis for the payment of this important benefit.

The purpose of this article

The purpose of this article is to outline the several labour law principles behind the establishment and payment of bonuses to employees by their employers. The articles outline the provisions in the Labour Act that speak to the payment of bonuses in Zimbabwe. It then analyses court decisions that have provided guidance and insight on these important issues. It will be noted in this discussion that, the South African position is not far off from the Zimbabwean labour law position on the issue of bonuses. Legal practitioners, Human Resources professionals, employers and employees can borrow some legal principles from South African jurisprudence without much of a hassle. The discussion starts by outlining the statutory basis for paying bonuses in Zimbabwe.

Statutory basis for bonuses

The Labour Act (Chapter 28.01)

The Labour Act contains provisions that are scattered throughout the Act that provide employers and employees with unqualified guidance on bonuses. At least three provisions in the Labour Act refer to bonuses and the payment thereof. What is important to note is that these provisions do not compel the employer to pay a bonus and the type of bonus to pay. These provisions are discussed hereunder.

Section 12 of the Labour Act

Section 12 of the Act imposes a legal obligation on an employer to provide, in writing, details of a bonus scheme that is operated by the employer.[9] This provision is meant to prevent and preclude disputes and provide legal certainty in the payment of bonuses in the workplace. The provision also implies that it is the employer that has the discretion to come up with a bonus scheme. Once a bonus scheme is in place it must be communicated with the employee, and this must happen on engagement. The provision does not provide a limitation on what constitutes a bonus and how this can be paid to the employees. All is left to the discretion of the employer.

Section 12A of the Labour Act

Once a bonus scheme has been established and communicated in accordance with section 12(2)(h) of the Act, the employer has an obligation to indicate on the employee’s payslip the payment of such a bonus. This is in line with section 12A(5)(c) of the Labour Act.[10] Again, the provision does not indicate the nature of the bonus and how it is calculated. All is left to the party’s discretion.

Section 25A of the Labour Act

Section 25A of the Act which provides for the composition, procedure, and functions of works councils has some regulation on bonuses. The provisions place an obligation on the employer to consult with the Works Council in connection with “the criteria for merit increases or payment of discretionary bonuses”.[11] In the process of consulting the works council on bonus issues, the employer is required to get representations from members of the worker’s committee and to allow them to advance alternative proposals. The employer must also consider and respond to the representations and alternative proposals. The employer should also state why he or she does not agree with the proposals being made.[12] As much as possible the employer must attempt to reach a consensus with the employees with regard to bonuses and conditions attached to it.

The importance of section 25A of the Act, in particular the need to inform employees of the decision to implement a bonus scheme was supported by the Supreme Court in T. M. Supermarkets (Private) Limited v Itayi Nkomo & 2 Others SC 26/18. The court stated that the employer in this case had a legal duty to notify the employees about the decision to implement the bonus scheme before implementing it.[13] Its failure to consult the employees made the legality of the scheme questionable.

Different types of bonuses

A review of several cases in Zimbabwe and South Africa shows that two main types of bonuses are normally awarded to employees. There is the 13th Cheque also called the Christmas bonus and the production or the performance bonus. The two forms of bonuses are discussed below. It is worth noting that the different types of bonuses can be awarded to groups of employees and may be awarded to individuals or the entire entity.

The 13th cheque or Christmas bonus.

This is a bonus that is usually given at the end of the year. It is paid after one receives their December wages or salary and that is why it is referred to as the 13th Cheque. It is 13th in the sense that the other 12 cheques would have been received between January and December. It is given as an extra wage or salary that comes after December of every year. There is usually no condition attached to the 13th cheque. In the majority of cases, it is given to all the employees who were present throughout the year.

Production or Performance Bonus

This type of bonus is tied to specific job performance criteria and is only awarded when the employee reaches a predetermined target. It can be paid out either monthly or at the end of the year. This type of bonus is a common incentive used by employers to motivate employees to meet or exceed their performance goals. By offering a financial reward for meeting certain targets, employees are encouraged to work harder and more efficiently. The Production Bonus can be a win-win situation for both the employer and the employee, as it helps to ensure that the company’s goals are met while also providing a financial benefit to the worker.

We believe that the labour law principles governing bonuses are the same whether it is a 13th cheque or a production bonus. It is thus important to note from the outset that the Labour Act leaves the issues of bonuses at the discretion of the employer. It is the employer that must sit down and set out the conditions under which a bonus is payable in an establishment. As discussed above, under section 25A of the Labour Act, the employer has a duty to consult with the employee representatives and may or may not accept the proposals presented by these representatives. There is also no strict guidance in terms of what is payable as a bonus and the quantum thereof. All these aspects are left to the discretion of the employer and an extent the employees through the consultation process.

Discretion of the employer in bonus issues

As indicated above, the statutory provisions in the Labour Act do not impose an onerous obligation on the employer to pay a bonus. The provisions are not strict and allow the employer to consult the worker’s committee in which case the employer can take into consideration what is proposed by this committee. In some cases, the employer may proceed to avoid implementing a bonus scheme.

The major disputes that have been before our courts in connection with bonuses and bonus payments have been a result of whether bonus payment is discretionary or not. In other words, the question is whether a bonus is a privilege or a right. The analysis by the court in Rodwell Jariremombe and Others v NSSA HH 402/2018 regarding whether a bonus can be discretionary or not is profound. The court found that whether a bonus is discretionary or not is a function of whether it is a contractual obligation or not. The case is discussed below.

We submit that if a bonus is found in a contract of employment, a company policy, or a CBA or any law there is a chance that it is an obligation. This is of course after one has assessed the wording of the provisions referring to the bonus.[14] On the other hand, if this bonus is not found anywhere in the instruments mentioned above and the employer is paying it, there is a high chance that it is discretionary and can be withdrawn by the employer at any time.

 What follows is a review of several cases that provide insight into the several principles established by our labour law as far as bonus is concerned in Zimbabwe.

Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe v Mvududu & 5 Others[15]

This case illustrates the important point that once an employer agrees to pay a bonus, this agreement cannot be set aside unilaterally. In this case, the employer agreed to a retrenchment package part of which it undertook to pay a bonus. After its audited financial statements were published it then turned out that the employer had made a loss. The employee insisted on the payment of the bonus since it was part of their agreement with the employer on retrenchment. The court pointed out that the employer must have qualified in the retrenchment agreement that a bonus was payable upon it making a profit. Failure to have such a meant that the employer didn’t set any conditions for the payment of the bonus and thus it could be paid to the employee whether a profit was made or not.

The importance of having bonus conditions known and documented is also illustrated in the facts found in the matter of Tendai Bonde v National Foods Limited SC 57/20. The employer and employee, in this case, agreed that the employee will not be entitled to a bonus if found guilty of a disciplinary offence during the period within which a bonus is payable. The employee was not paid the bonus based on a disciplinary offence. It would appear that the court was willing to accept the consequences of the terms of the bonus scheme and its adverse effect on the employee had the matter not been resolved with the consent of the parties.[16] It is thus important and indeed advisable for employers to come up with written conditions for bonus schemes and to ensure that these are communicated to the employees.[17]

Rodwell Jariremombe and Others v NSSA[18]

This case illustrates the complicated nature of bonus payments that are paid for a considerable period and that are later withdrawn unilaterally by the employer. In this case, NSSA withdrew an annual bonus citing that it was discretionary and could be taken away at any time. This prompted the employees to approach the High Court for a declaratory order compelling NSSA to pay the bonus.[19]

In refusing to compel NSSA to pay the bonus, the court argued that a bonus is a benefit that can either be contractual or discretionary. When a benefit is discretionary, the employer can take it away at any time.[20] The court further argued that once a benefit is discretionary the fact that it was honoured in prior years does not mean that it ceases to be discretionary.[21] This would be different from cases where a benefit is vested in terms of a contract of employment in which case, its discretionary nature does not exist. Such a contractual benefit must be paid by the employer unless the employee agrees otherwise.

The court then concluded that based on founding provisions of the NSSA bonuses are discretionary and as such the employer could not be compelled to pay its employees the discretionary bonus.

First Mutual Life Ltd. v Muzivi[22]

The First Mutual Life Ltd case involved the quantification of damages in lieu of reinstatement. The Supreme Court in this case, took note of the Labour Court’s judgement that an employee had to be paid a bonus for the time he had not been with the employer, that is during the period of unfair dismissal. The Labour Court had imposed this bonus after the quantification proceedings simply because the annual bonus had been “paid to other employees”. The Supreme Court highlighted the discretion of the employer regarding bonuses in such circumstances as follows:

“Payment of an annual bonus is generally discretionary on the part of the employer. It could not be said that the employee would have been awarded a bonus under all circumstances. A bonus would have depended on a clear record of performance. Having been suspended, it could not be said that the employee performed so well that he would have been entitled to a bonus.”

The Supreme Court’s remarks in the First Mutual Life Ltd case are important in that they speak to the philosophy in the Labour Act that a bonus is highly at the discretion of the employer. The remarks also seem to suggest that an employee must be available for work during the period of the bonus for them to be entitled to it. In cases wherein an employee is unfairly dismissed, the employee is not entitled to a bonus because they would not have been available for work.[23]

We have a different perspective on the court’s remarks in this particular case. When an employee is unfairly dismissed and reinstated by an order of the court, there is a legal obligation to place the employee into the position they would have been in but for the unfair dismissal.[24] Had the employee not been unfairly dismissed, he would have performed his duties and consequently would have been entitled to the bonus. Having been reinstated, we submit that an employee should also be entitled to the bonus that would have been paid to the other employees. This will place the employee into the position he or she would have occupied had it not been for the unfair dismissal occasioned by the employer. The employer’s discretion in issues of bonus must not be malicious or discriminatory.

T. M. Supermarkets (Private) Limited v Itayi Nkomo & 2 Others[25]

The dispute mainly concerned the implementation of a performance-based incentive bonus scheme. This had been implemented without the employer hearing what the employees had to say about the scheme. The employees complained that they were being underpaid since they were receiving a wage which was lower than that which was ordinarily paid to other employees in the same grade within the same company. The arbitrator who heard the matter concluded that by not consulting the employees on the bonus scheme, the employer had violated their right to be heard. The Labour Court also agreed with the arbitrator that an unfair labour practice had been committed in implementing the bonus scheme without prior consultation.

In the Supreme Court, the employer argued that there was nothing wrong with implementing the bonus scheme since the employees were being paid a minimum basic wage component in terms of the relevant Collective Bargaining Agreement. The court’s position was that there was nothing wrong with coming up with a bonus scheme for the benefit of the employees. It stated:

“A bonus is what can generally be termed a benefit. The implication that can be drawn is that the grant of a bonus per se is not illegal and an employer cannot generally be held to have committed an unfair labour practice by setting up a bonus scheme. The rationale to this principle is that every employee has the right to a performance-based incentive and if they work well, they will be paid well without any reference being made to their class, race, tribe, or any other factor on the basis upon which discrimination can competently be committed. Thus, the grant of a performance-based bonus is therefore not proscribed by law.”[26]

The remarks by the Supreme Court in this case are in tandem with the Labour Act in that a bonus is legal and fully recognised in terms of Zimbabwean law.[27] The court indicated that it is in very limited circumstances that it would interfere with the exercise of discretion by an employer unless the employer has acted on a wrong principle.[28] It recognised the law that was outlined in First Mutual Life Ltd. v Muzivi SC 9/2007. It recognised the need for an employer to implement a bonus scheme after informing the employees of the same.[29] On the basis that the employees had not been informed about the implementation of the bonus scheme, the Supreme Court accepted the Labour Court’s judgment that the whole scheme was illegal.[30] It also ruled that because the scheme was illegal, the Labour Court could not have lawfully proceeded to order back pay for the aggrieved employees based on the unlawful scheme.

The case thus illustrates the importance of communicating a bonus scheme to the employees in terms of Section 25A of the Labour Act. It also shows that a bonus scheme that is implemented without the involvement of the affected employees can be impugned by the court.

South African Legal Position

It is interesting to note that how the bonus is treated in South Africa is not far off from how Zimbabwean law views bonuses and their payment. The discretionary nature of the bonus in South Africa is also respected. We believe that the Labour law in South Africa, may expand and aid our understanding of bonuses and how they may be treated from a Zimbabwean labour law perspective.

Labour Relations Act of South Africa[31]

Like Zimbabwean law on the subject, there is no statutory obligation that is placed by South African Acts of Parliament compelling employers to pay a bonus and to have one in the first place. As will be gleaned below, South African statutory law requires that employees, through their representatives, be consulted before the issues of bonuses are considered and implemented. What follows is a review of the two important sections found in the Labour Relations Act of South Africa in connection with bonuses and payments thereof.

Section 84 of the Labour Relations Act of South Africa

Section 84 of the Labour Relations Act of South Africa provides for specific matters that an employer must consult with a workplace forum. A workplace forum is the South African equivalent of a Zimbabwean worker’s committee. Issues connected to the “criteria for merit increases or the payment of discretionary bonuses” should go through the consultation process before they are implemented.[32] As discussed above, this position is also found in the Zimbabwe set-up where an employer must consult a works council before implementing a bonus.[33] As already mentioned, in a matter of T. M. Supermarkets (Private) Limited v Itayi Nkomo & 2 Others SC 26/18 failure to consult a works council can result in a bonus scheme being deemed unlawful.

Section 87 of the Labour Relations Act of South Africa

The section simply states that on being elected to office, a workplace forum can arrange a meeting with the employer to review the “criteria for merit increases or the payment of discretionary bonuses.”[34]  The section does not provide for any other obligation on the part of the employer.

South African Case LawApollo Tyres v Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and Others[35]

The case determined that payment of a bonus is deemed a benefit in terms of the Labour Relations Act of South Africa (LRA). The court determined that the term “benefit” under the LRA refers to any existing advantages or privileges that an employee is entitled to. Such benefits can be based on a contract, law, or policy/practice at the employer’s discretion. The court noted:

“In my view, the better approach would be to interpret the term benefit to include a right or entitlement to which the employee is entitled (ex contractu or ex lege including rights judicially created) as well as an advantage or privilege which has been offered or granted to an employee in terms of a policy or practice subject to the employer’s discretion. In my judgment “benefit” in section 186 (2)(a) of the Act means existing advantages or privileges to which an employee is entitled as a right or granted in terms of a policy or practice subject to the employer’s discretion.”[36]

The case involved an early retirement policy which an employee could, at the discretion of the employer, opt for. The employer in this instance disallowed the employee from retiring early, for flimsy reasons and ended up treating the employee unfairly.[37] The employer also threatened the employee for demanding the early retirement package despite it being a benefit awarded to other employees. The court could not condone the exercise of the employer’s discretion in such a degrading and discriminatory manner. The observation of the court in this case applies with equal force to the issue of bonuses. The discretion to give or not to give an employee a bonus must not be arbitrary and motivated by inappropriate motives.

Public Servants Association obo Motsekoa v Department of Sports, Arts and Culture[38]

In this important case, the employees were not happy with how the employer determined and paid them bonuses.[39] The dispute concerned a bonus that had been awarded between 2010 and 2011. Before this period, bonus payments were made without any issues arising from the scheme.[40] For the 2010 and 2011 bonuses, the department implemented measures to ensure that the bonus paid stays within the set limit of 1.5% of the approved wage bill budget. The employee’s challenge was that a body that was constituted to ensure the implementation of these measures was not there in terms of the provisions governing the bonus.  The question before the court was whether a review of the employer’s actions was an appropriate procedure to follow. The court accepted that how an employer chooses to exercise its discretion will always be challenged under the provisions that deal with unfair labour practices.[41] This case illustrates that dispute resolution mechanisms of conciliation and arbitration will always be available to an employee who is aggrieved by the exercise of the employer’s discretion whether this is  bonus-related or not.

Aucamp v South African Revenue Services[42]

The court held that, even if a benefit is subject to certain conditions and the employer’s discretion, an employee can still seek to have instances where they were unfairly deprived of that benefit adjudicated in terms of unfair labour practice proceedings. Therefore, even if the benefit is not explicitly guaranteed in the employment contract, the employee can still claim it as an unfair labour practice if they can demonstrate that they were unjustly denied it.

The Bottom Line

We observe that the Zimbabwean and South African legal position regarding the payment of bonuses to employees is somewhat similar. The statutes for both countries do not strictly regulate the payment of bonuses. All is left to the discretion of the employer. Once the employer chooses to implement a bonus scheme, either as a 13th cheque or as a performance-related bonus scheme, there is a legal obligation to consult with the employee representatives in the employment setup. Failure to render such consultation can prove to be problematic for the entire bonus scheme.

We also note that whilst bonus payment is discretionary, the discretion must not be exercised arbitrarily or unfairly. The case of Apollo Tyres v Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and Others clearly illustrates that bonus issues, even when they are discretionary, can still be adjudicated upon in terms of the laws provided under the Labour Act. In Public Servants Association obo Motsekoa v Department of Sports, Arts and Culture the position was emphasized with the court positing that abuse of employer’s discretion in bonus issues can be adjudicated under the unfair labour practice jurisdiction that is reserved for ADR (conciliation and arbitration) mechanisms in terms of the labour laws of both countries.

An analysis of the laws of South Africa and Zimbabwe also points to the need for employers to come up with clear bonus schemes and policies that are adequately communicated to the employees. This can be through the works council and workers committee forums available in an employment setup. This communication enhances legal certainty and prevents instances of unnecessary disputes and wastage of legal costs.


[1]              All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including but not limited to photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

[2]              Taurai Mrewa is an academic writer who shares his expertise in labour law. Through his articles, he aims to equip employers and employees with knowledge about labour laws, fostering a harmonious working environment. Please note that the views expressed in these articles are his own and not affiliated with any organization.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available in this article and the website above (https://taumrewa.co.zw/blog) site is for general informational purposes only. Readers of this article and website should contact their attorney to obtain advice on any particular legal matter.

[3]              Herald, “Bonus: Chinamasa Speaks Out” (20 April 2015), https://www.herald.co.zw/bonus-chinamasa-speaks-out/, <Accessed: 2 December 2023>.

[4]              Voice of America, (12 January 2016) “Non-Payment of 2015 Bonuses Irks Zimbabwe State Workers”, https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/zimbabwe-bonus-payments/3141951.html, <Accessed: 2 December 2023>.

[5]              The Herald (1 January 2016), Civil Servants meet the RBZ Chief, call off planned strike, https://www.herald.co.zw/civil-servants-meet-rbz-chief-call-off-planned-strike-bonus-still-coming-constant-pay-dates-promised/<Accessed: 2 December 2023>.

[6]              The Herald, (20 April 2015) “Bonus: Chinamasa Speaks Out”, https://www.herald.co.zw/bonus-chinamasa-speaks-out/, <Accessed: 2 December 2023>.

[7]              The Sunday Mail,(17 September 2017) “No bonuses for private sector”, https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/no-bonuses-for-private-sector, <Accessed 2 December 2023>.

[8]              The Herald, (6 September 2017) “Workers drag NSSA to court over bonus”, https://www.herald.co.zw/workers-drag-nssa-to-court-over-bonus/, <Accessed 2 December 2023>.

[9]              Section 12(2)(h) of the Labour Act provides: “(2) An employer shall, upon engagement of an employee, inform the employee in writing of the following particulars— (h) particulars of any bonus or incentive production scheme”. (Own Emphasis)

[10]             Section 12A(5)(c) of the Labour Act provides: “(5) All remuneration shall be accompanied by a written statement showing— the component of the remuneration representing any bonus or allowance.” (Own Emphasis)

[11]             Section 25A(5)(e) of the Labour Act provides: “Without prejudice to the provisions of any collective bargaining agreement that may be applicable to the establishment concerned, a works council shall be entitled to be consulted by the employer about proposals relating to any of the following matters— the criterion for merit increases or payment of discretionary bonuses”

[12]             Section 25A(6) of the Labour Act.

[13]             T. M. Supermarkets (Private) Limited v Itayi Nkomo & 2 Others SC 26/18 at paragraph 8 the court remarked that: “It is my view that the finding by the court a quo cannot be assailed because employees have a right to be informed about decisions pertaining to their employment conditions of service even if the decisions are made in the exercise of an employer’s discretion. The appellant as the employer had a duty to notify all employees about its decision to start a performance-based bonus scheme before implementing it.”

[14]             See Rodwell Jariremombe and Others v NSSA HH 402/2018.

[15]             Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe v Mvududu & 5 Others LC/H/51/2014.

[16]             In Tendai Bonde v National Foods Limited SC 57/20 the court remarked: “The court found that for the period January – June 2016 during which the incentive bonus was payable, the applicant had an existing misconduct case and that he was therefore ineligible to get the incentive bonus in terms of the conditions of the scheme. The court also found that the incentive scheme was not an entitlement and that it was non-contractual. It therefore found that, as a court, it could not, in these circumstances, impose an obligation on the employer to pay the incentive bonus in all cases as that would be tantamount to rewriting the contract of employment for the parties.”

[17]             See T. M. Supermarkets (Private) Limited v Itayi Nkomo & 2 Others SC 26/18.

[18]             Rodwell Jariremombe and Others v NSSA HH 402/2018.

[19]             It’s important to note that in terms of Nhari vs Mugabe and others SC161/20 the High Court can no longer exercise its jurisdiction over Labour Matters.

[20]             Rodwell Jariremombe and Others v NSSA HH 402/2018 at page 29.

[21]             Rodwell Jariremombe and Others v NSSA HH 402/2018 at page 30.

[22]             First Mutual Life Ltd. v Muzivi SC 9/2007

[23]             See also Clan Transport Company (Pvt) Ltd. v Clan Transport Workers Committee SC 1 /02 wherein the court noted: “The respondents were not entitled to an award under this head since bonus is usually performance-related unless evidence led reveals the contrary and no such evidence was led.”

[24]             See CIMAS Medical Aid Society v Nyandoro SC 6/16 at page 7 wherein the court remarked: “Reinstatement is a remedy which is used to place an unfairly dismissed employee into a position he would have been had the unfair dismissal not been committed.”

[25]             T. M. Supermarkets (Private) Limited v Itayi Nkomo & 2 Others SC 26/18.

[26]             T. M. Supermarkets (Private) Limited v Itayi Nkomo & 2 Others SC 26/18 at page 6.

[27]             See sections 12, 12A and 25A of the Labour Act (Chapter 28:01).

[28]             T. M. Supermarkets (Private) Limited v Itayi Nkomo & 2 Others SC 26/18 at page 7.

[29]             T. M. Supermarkets (Private) Limited v Itayi Nkomo & 2 Others SC 26/18 at page 8.

[30]             T. M. Supermarkets (Private) Limited v Itayi Nkomo & 2 Others SC 26/18 at page 8.

[31]             Act Number 66 of 1995.

[32]             Section 84(1)(h) of the Labour Relations Act of South Africa provides: “Unless the matters for consultation are regulated by a collective agreement with the representative trade union, a workplace forum is entitled to be consulted by the employer about proposals relating to any of the following matters- (h) criteria for merit increases or the payment of discretionary bonuses.”

[33]             Section 25A(5)(e) of the Labour Act (Chapter 28.01)

[34]             Section 87(1)(a) of the Labour Relations Act of South Africa.

[35]             Apollo Tyres v Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and Others (2013) 34 ILJ 1120 (LAC).

[36]             Apollo Tyres v Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and Others (2013) 34 ILJ 1120 (LAC) at paragraph 50.

[37]             The court in this case observed that: “The appellant acted in a deplorable manner towards Hoosen. When she approached Van der Walt and asked him whether she could get a legal opinion on the issue of managerial discretion he threatened her, no he in fact intimidated her. When the referral documents were served on the appellant, she was told to leave with immediate effect. So despicable was its conduct that a farewell party that was arranged for her was cancelled. That is not the way to treat an employee who has, by all accounts, given more than 24 years of dedicated and excellent service. The appellant ought to be mulcted in costs.”

[38]             Public Servants Association obo Motsekoa v Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (2015) 36 ILJ 808 (BCA).

[39]             Public Servants Association obo Motsekoa v Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (2015) 36 ILJ 808 (BCA) at paragraph 1.

[40]             Public Servants Association obo Motsekoa v Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (2015) 36 ILJ 808 (BCA) at paragraph 13.

[41]             Public Servants Association obo Motsekoa v Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (2015) 36 ILJ 808 (BCA) at paragraph 50.

[42]             Aucamp v South African Revenue Services [2014] 2 BLLR 152 (LC).

386 Views

Application for Stay of Execution

This article is based on Chapter 3 of the “Contemporary Employment Law in Zimbabwe, First Edition”.

1.      Introduction

Several types of reliefs may be sought in the Labour Court of Zimbabwe. In some cases, the court may issue an order for the payment of a sum of money or the performance of a specific act such as reinstatement. However, the party against whom the order is made may seek a stay of execution to suspend the enforcement of the order pending an appeal or other legal process. This is usually the case where money is involved. If the stay of execution application is not granted, an aggrieved employee may attach and sell the employer’s property. This is so because the noting of an appeal at the Labour Court does not suspend the operation of the order or arbitral award being appealed against.[1] This section provides a guide on the procedure for obtaining a stay of execution as well as the rules applicable in the Labour Court of Zimbabwe. This application is necessary to prevent irreparable harm from happening to litigants.

1.1.         The relevant rule

The relevant rule providing for a stay of execution in the Labour Court is rule 41 which provides as follows:

“(1) Pending the determination of an appeal the Court or a Judge sitting in chambers may, upon application, order a stay of the execution of a decision order or determination appealed against.

(2) In granting a stay of execution, the Court or Judge may fix any such terms as to security for the due performance of an arbitral award, decision, order or determination or any variation thereof as the Court or the judge deems fit.”

The rules thus envisage that an applicant would have first appealed to the court and then apply for a stay of execution of the order or award being appealed against. In considering the application, the judge may order such terms as the judge sees fit.

The general rule in the Zimbabwean jurisdiction is contained in Ndlovu v Zimbabwe Grain Bag[2] wherein the court stated that litigation should run its full course before a litigant can execute a judgement. The general principle is therefore that a stay of execution must be granted thus allowing appeals to be heard.

1.2.         Grounds for a Stay of Execution

A stay of execution may be granted on various grounds, including:

  1. Appeal: The party against whom the order is made may appeal to a higher court, and if there is a likelihood of success on appeal, the court may grant a stay of execution to preserve the status quo pending the outcome of the appeal.
  2. Irreparable harm: The party seeking a stay of execution may argue that irreparable harm will be suffered if the order is enforced pending an appeal or other legal process. For instance, if the order requires the payment of a hefty sum of money, and the party is unable to pay, enforcement may result in the loss of assets or bankruptcy.
  3. Extraordinary circumstances: The court may grant a stay of execution if there are special circumstances that warrant it. For example, if the party against whom the order is made is seriously ill or has suffered a bereavement, enforcement may be stayed to allow them time to recover.

1.3.         Procedure for Obtaining a Stay of Execution

To obtain a stay of execution in the Labour Court of Zimbabwe, the following procedure must be followed:

  1. File Notice of Appeal: If the party against whom the award or determination is made intends to appeal, they must file a notice of appeal within 21 days from the date of the order. The notice of appeal must state the grounds of appeal and relief sought.[3] The applicant must fulfil the service requirements for the appeal.
  1. File Application for Stay of Execution Pending Appeal: Once the notice of appeal has been filed, the party seeking a stay of execution must apply for a stay of execution of the order being appealed against with the Registrar of the Labour Court. The application must be supported by an affidavit setting out the grounds for the stay and any evidence in support thereof.[4]
  1. Serve Application: The application for a stay of execution must be served on all parties to the proceedings.[5] Notably, service can now happen online.
  1. The parties must file their heads of arguments.
  1. Hearing: The Registrar will set down the application for hearing before a judge of the Labour Court. The judge will consider the application and any submissions made by the parties before deciding on whether to grant or refuse the stay. As indicated above, labour court hearings can now happen online.
  1. Conditions: If a stay of execution is granted, it may be subject to conditions, such as payment of security or compliance with certain obligations.[6] In Zimbabwe Open University v Magaramombe & Another SC 20 / 2012, the court ordered the stay of execution but also ordered that the property belonging to the University remain under attachment pending the determination of the appeal. It further ordered that the University remain in possession of the attached property pending the determination of the appeal.
  1. Duration: A stay of execution may be granted for a specified period or until further order of the court upon the exercise of judicial discretion. In the Magaramombe case, discussed above, the stay of execution was to remain in place until the appeal is determined.

1.4.         Factors to be considered

Like any other applications discussed thus far, before the granting of an application for a stay of execution, a court considers several factors. The goal here is to ensure that frivolous applications are not granted.

One factor that the court considers is the risk of irreparable harm. This would be the case if the property of the Applicant were to be executed and later the main appeal is decided in the Applicant’s favour. In the Magaramombe discussed above, the court reasoned that the fact that the Respondent was employed and will not be seriously disadvantaged by the delay of the sale in execution of the applicant’s property meant that he would not suffer irreparable harm.

Another factor considered by the court is the issue of the prospects of success of the main appeal. This was correctly held in the South African case of Ntshangane v Specialty Metals CC(1998) 19 ILJ 1008 (LC).[7] This factor is also decisive in Zimbabwean labour jurisdiction wherein a perusal of caselaw shows the same attitude of the courts.[8] The prospects of success of the main appeal is an important aspect when a court is deciding on whether or not to grant a stay of execution. If prospects of success are high, an application for a stay of execution may be granted on that factor alone. If the prospects are low, the application may be dismissed.

The two factors may not necessarily be proven equally. The court exercises its judicial mind on the factors in question and comes up with a verdict that is appropriate under the circumstances. The relationship between these two factors was explained in the City of Harare v Petros G Chamisa LC/H/43/14 as follows:

“The two elements referred to, however, must be looked at together. In some cases, the requirement of prospects of success can be so decisive that the application for a stay of execution can be granted or refused on that basis alone. In other cases, the aspect of potential prejudice, should the contested award be executed, can become a decisive factor.”

It is thus important for parties dealing with a stay of execution application to consider these factors at the point of drafting their papers i.e., the founding affidavit as well as the response affidavit. Failure to carefully consider these factors can result in a waste of costs and court time.

1.5.         Bottom line

An application for a stay of execution is an important procedural route that allows a party to suspend the enforcement of an order pending an appeal or other legal process. In the Labour Court of Zimbabwe, a stay of execution may be granted after considering several factors, including the prospects of success of the appeal, risk of irreparable harm, and any other exceptional circumstances. To obtain a stay of execution, the party seeking it must follow the prescribed procedure, which involves filing an application with the Registrar and serving it on all parties to the proceedings.


[1]              Section 48(2) of the Labour Act reads: “A notice of appeal in terms of subsection (1) shall not suspend the operation or effect of the decision appealed against.”

[2]              Ndlovu v Zimbabwe Grain Bag HC 1039/02

[3]              See rule 19 of the Labour Court Rules, 2017.

[4]              See City of Harare v Petros G Chamisa LC/H/43/14 wherein it was held: “The Applicant filed an appeal against the arbitral award on the 17th of July 2013, which appeal is still pending.  The noting of the appeal was followed by the filing of this application on the 30th of July 2013.”

[5]              See PART II of the Labour Court Rules, 2017.

[6]              See rule 41 of Labour Court rules.

[7]              The court said: “… To succeed in stay proceedings the applicant must satisfy the court that it has good prospects of success in the pending matter…It is for whoever relies on the pending review argument to instil a well-grounded conviction in the mind of the court that the prospects of success of the review are reasonably good…”

[8]              Beauty Chibaya-Nyamasoka v Edward Ruzive and 2 Others HC 2119/15.

198 Views

    Arbitral Awards & Labour Court Judgements issued prior to 2019 may be registered and executed in USD After all. A review of CFI Holdings t/a Farm & City v Machaya SC 37/2023

“The request by the appellants for the court a quo to determine the issue of the currency was in essence a request for the court to determine the lawfulness or correctness of the decision of the Labour Court. The court a quo did not have the power to determine the propriety of the judgment of the Labour Court. To do so would amount to delving into the merits of the matter before the Labour Court. The court a quo could only do so in the exercise of its review or appeal powers.”

Introduction

The dispute between Farm & City and Andrew Machaya under the Supreme Court case number SC 37 / 2023 involved an appeal against the registration of a Labour Court judgement amounting to USD 177,408.00 in favour of the Respondent. The significance of this judgement is that awards and judgements, that were issued before 2019, may be registered and executed in USD provided certain conditions are present. This is significant because the conventional understanding is that every judgment before 2019 February must be payable and executed in ZWL at the rate of 1 USD: 1ZWL. This judgement, if religiously followed, will result in the protection of several employees who are sitting on unregistered and unexecuted arbitral awards and Labour Court judgements issued before 2019.

Facts

In 2003 the respondent was suspended by the appellant. He was its Personnel Manager. In 2012 the Supreme Court nullified the suspension leading to his retirement. He was fully paid his wages and benefits thereafter. This was all paid in USD. The respondent then applied to the Labour Court for quantification of the outstanding dues. He was awarded USD 177,408.00. He then proceeded to apply to the HC for the registration of the Labour Court judgement for enforcement. This was in terms of section 93B(3) of the Labour Act (Chapter 28.01).

At the High Court and in the registration proceedings, the appellant employer argued that the judgement ought to have been in ZWL given the Finance Act (Number 2) of 2019. It then argued that because the judgement was in USD it was not sounding in money and therefore not registrable. The HC argued that delving into the propriety of the proper currency would be taking an appellate role which was not acceptable. The High Court also argued that the respondent had correctly canvassed and proved the requirements for the registration of the LC judgment. It then registered the LC judgement leaving the appellant company not amused.

The court’s findings and the law

Before the SC was a question as to whether the requirements for the registration of the LC judgment had been fulfilled.

Requirements for the registration of an award

The court ruled that the five requirements that had to be fulfilled to register an award are as follows:

“The requirements that must be satisfied before the High Court or the Magistrates Court grants an application for registration of an award are:

  1. The award must have been granted by a competent arbitrator.
  2. The award must sound in money.
  3. The award is still extant and has not been set aside on review or appeal.
  4. The litigants are the parties to the award. The award must be certified as an award of the arbitrator.”

The court observed that even though these requirements applied to an arbitral award, with equal force they also applied to the registration of LC judgements.[1] Regarding the question as to whether the judgement was sounding in money, it was observed by the SC that such a question had not been brought to the fore in the court aquo and could thus not be raised for the first time in the SC.

    The question of law raised in the court a quo

    It was the SC’s observation that during the proceedings aquo, the Appellant argued that the issue of currency ought to be considered by the HC.  The SC pointed out that had the HC acceded to this request it would have acted beyond its powers. It observed:

    “The limitation of the court a quo’s powers was addressed in the remarks cited above from Vasco Olympio, supra, and Biltrans (Pvt) Ltd v Minister of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare & Ors, supra, where it was clearly pronounced that the court a quo would not have the power to delve into the merits of the case in an application for the registration of an award and in this case a Labour Court judgment. All that the court a quo was required to do was to determine whether the requirements for registration of the judgment had been met.”

    The HC was therefore not in a position to go into the merits of the case before it and decide on the issue of the correct currency. The court also noted that the appellant had not done anything to challenge the currency issue since its leave to appeal had been abandoned at the LC. This had left the LC judgement extant with no possibility that it would be turned around.

      Conclusion of the dispute

      The appeal was dismissed with costs for lack of merit.

      Own comment

      The significance of this case is huge. It puts employees in a position where if one has an award or a judgment that was quantified in USD before February 2019, such a judgment can be registered provided the employer has not challenged the same. Presented with such an application a Magistrate Court or a High Court cannot pay attention to the arguments related to the 2019 currency changes because doing so would amount to reviewing the award being registered. The HC or MC only register Labour Court judgements. The two courts cannot delve into the merits of the matter. This judgement is commendable for its stance towards the protection of employees. It resonates very well with the theory of labour law, which seeks to balance the unequal power between employers and employees.


      [1]              CFI Holdings t/a Farm & City v Machaya SC 37 / 2023 on page 6.

      574 Views

      Manyenga v Petrozim (Private) Limited SC 40/23

      “In order for the defence of impossibility to succeed, the impossibility must be objective in the sense that it must be a real impossibility which is not based on a party’s disinterest or unwillingness to perform their contractual duties”.

      Introduction

      Manyenga v Petrozim (Private) Limited is authority of the fact that an employee facing a disciplinary charge involving an omission can have a defence by way of arguing that they couldn’t perform the legal duty imposed on them.

      This case deals with a situation where an employee was charged and dismissed for an omission that he was accused of committing at a time when he was employed as an acting general manager for the respondent company. The omission was that he had failed to advise the respondent’s board of the operational challenges that were being faced by the respondent. He argued that he could not have been able to advise the board due to the shortfalls that were inherent in his job. It was this argument that boiled down to the common law rule/defence called  “lex non cogit ad impossibilia”.  The effect of the employee’s defence was that “objective impossibility in discharging a legal duty is always a defence when the type of conduct charged is an omission.” It was this defence that was placed before the Supreme Court.

      Facts

      The appellant, Johannes Manyenga, worked as the Deputy General Manager for the Respondent in this matter. He was accused of non-disclosure to the board of material issues that were negatively affecting his employer.[1] Despite denying the charges levelled against him, he was eventually dismissed from employment.[2] Irked by the disciplinary hearing outcome,  the appellant unsuccessfully appealed to the Labour Court. It was the Labour Court’s position that there was no misdirection on the part of the disciplinary hearing, considering the evidence that was placed before it.[3] Aggrieved with the Labour Court’s findings, the appellant approached the Supreme Court. The question before the Supreme Court was whether the court had found sufficient ground to confirm the conviction and dismissal of the appellant.

      The court’s findings and the law

      Impossibility of performance

      The first observation that the Supreme Court made was that “objective impossibility in discharging a legal duty is always a defence when the type of conduct charged is an omission”.[4] Here the court’s observation was that the appellant employee could not inform the respondent’s board of directors of the shortcomings in the respondent’s operations because his ability to do so was curtailed by the respondent. No board meeting had been held at the time the appellant acted as the General Manager (GM) for the Respondent. It was also observed that there was a standing instruction that all communication to the board had to happen through the GM. His substantive appointment was that of a deputy GM. In addition, it was observed that no employee was reporting to the Appellant as the Acting GM.[5] All these barriers made it objectively impossible for the Appellant to inform the respondent or its board of the challenges that were faced by the operations. The impossibility of performing the expected duties was seen as a defence when one is charged with an omission.

      For impossibility to be a defence, the court ruled that the impossibility must result in “real impossibility”.[6] Imagery or hypothetical impossibility will not apply as a defence against a charge of an omission. In addition, the impossibility must be permanent. Temporary impossibility will not exonerate an employee from not performing.[7]

      Admission in the course of proceedings

      The objective impossibility faced by the Appellant to inform the Respondent of the operational challenges bedevilling its operations was confirmed by an admission that was made in the disciplinary hearing.[8] The court argued that once an admission was made it would bind the maker if later such an admission is not withdrawn. It remarked:

      “Indeed, the effect of an admission is settled law. Once made it binds its maker with the attendant consequences see Kettex Holdings P/L v S Kencor Management Services P/L HH 236-15.”

      The admission confirmed that the employee could not inform the board of the challenges faced by the respondent company when no such board meeting had been convened.

      The court also argued that the fact that the appellant had access to the board chairman did not mean that he had access to the board. It distinguished between the board as a committee of persons that convene at specific intervals as opposed to its chairman who is a single individual.[9] It further argued that a board entails a properly constituted board. Without access to this properly constituted board, the appellant could not have been said to have had access to the board.[10]

      Conclusion of the dispute

      The court found that the Appellant must not have been found guilty and dismissed because it was impossible to do what the respondent expected him to do.

      Own comment

      The importance of this judgement is twofold. An employee can escape a disciplinary charge wherein he or she is accused of not doing something by pointing out that it was not possible to do the legal act expected of him or her. The failure must not be deliberate or temporary. It must be a permanent impossibility that is not imputed on the employee. This judgement also highlights the effect of an admission. Once an admission has been put across and not withdrawn it has the legal effect of binding the person that makes the admission. Proof of such an admission may not be required.


      [1]              Manyenga v Petrozim (Private) Limited SC 40/23 on paragraph 5.

      [2]              Manyenga v Petrozim (Private) Limited on paragraph 10.

      [3]              Manyenga v Petrozim (Private) Limited on paragraph 17.

      [4]              Manyenga v Petrozim (Private) Limited on paragraph 24.

      [5]              Manyenga v Petrozim (Private) Limited on paragraph 32 wherein it was held: “To add on to the above submissions, the appellant’s predicament was further compounded by the fact that he had no subordinates reporting to him on the company’s operations.”

      [6]              Manyenga v Petrozim (Private) Limited on paragraph 27.

      [7]              Manyenga v Petrozim (Private) Limited on paragraph 28 wherein the court remarked: “Furthermore, the impossibility to perform must not only temporarily prevent a party from performing their contractual obligations. It must be one where performance of the contract is finally and completely impossible. See the case of Mutangadura v TS Timber Building Supplies 2009 (2) ZLR 424 (H) at 429C-F.”

      [8]              Manyenga v Petrozim (Private) Limited on paragraph 32.

      [9]              Manyenga v Petrozim (Private) Limited on paragraph 33.

      [10]            Manyenga v Petrozim (Private) Limited on paragraph 32.

      114 Views

      American Friends Service Committee v Irene Chauke SC 1/2012

      “There can be no doubt that the Labour Court fell into error in coming to this conclusion as it is settled law that damages in these circumstances must be properly proved by the party seeking the same”.

      Introduction

        In the Contemporary Employment Law in Zimbabwe, First Edition we indicated that the widely accepted test for determining if an employment relationship exists between the parties is the dominant impression test. This test looks at all the facts of the interaction between the parties to determine if indeed there was an employment relationship. Aspects such as the control of the employee by the employer, supervision, and control must be fully considered. The test also looks at whether the employee was part of an organization. In such a test, therefore, there is no single decisive factor that the court considers. The totality of the evidence presented by the parties is fully considered.

        Facts

        American Friends Service Committee v Irene Chauke SC 1/2012 deals with two important aspects of Zimbabwe’s employment law. First, it outlines the law that applies in a determination as to whether an employment relationship exists between the parties. Secondly, it also assesses and makes a decisive conclusion on the importance of evidence when it comes to the quantification of damages in lieu of reinstatement. These issues are discussed here.

          The issue presented before the Supreme Court centred on whether or not a valid employer-employee relationship existed between the parties. The appellant had initially hired the respondent on fixed-term contracts up until September 2007. However, it was undisputed that the respondent continued to provide services to the appellant beyond this time frame. Her employment was extended on multiple occasions until its termination in June 2009. At the point of termination, she was earning a monthly salary of US$1,500 and was required to work five days per week and eight hours per day. Additionally, her role as office coordinator and programmer required her to report her activities to the regional office located in South Africa. The case at hand thus required a thorough examination of the employment relationship between the parties involved and to ascertain whether an employer-employee relationship existed between the parties

          The court’s findings and the law

          The court found that on the facts, the respondent was an employee of the appellant. The fact that the respondent was earning a monthly salary of US$1,500 and was required to work five days per week and eight hours per day all pointed to the existence of an employment relationship.

          In addition to the above, the court also found that the arbitrator based his decision regarding the quantification of damages solely on an unsupported statement from the respondent. The Labour Court had accepted this claim without opposition from the appellant. The Supreme Court emphasized that damages in such cases must be properly substantiated by the party making the damages claim.

          Conclusion of the dispute

          The court’s view was that there was a need for the quantum of damages to be properly proved. The matter was remitted to the Labour Court for determination of the damages after evidence had been adduced.

          Own comment

            This case highlights the dominant impression test of determining whether an employment relationship exists between the parties. The fact that the Respondent was employed on a fixed-term basis. That he was paid a salary of USD 1500 and reported to superiors in South Africa all pointed to the existence of an employment relationship contemplated by the Labour Act. Every court faced with a dispute regarding the existence of an employment relationship is compelled to look at the totality of the evidence presented by the parties. This resonates well with what the Supreme Court indicated in Masango & Others v Kenneth & Another SC 41–2015 where the court ruled that:

             “…. what the parties call each other in such a contractual relationship, or what they perceive their relationship to be is not decisive and may actually be irrelevant. The court looks at the totality of the evidence and all the circumstances to determine the true nature of the relationship.”

            Equally so, the acceptance of damages by a court in the absence of evidence is not ideal. Several court judgements have emphasized the importance of leading evidence in order to support quantification proceedings. In Heywood Investments (Private) Limited T/A GDC Hauliers v Pharaoh Zakeyo SC32/2013 the Supreme Court ruled that:

            “What the court is not empowered to do is to award damages in the absence of any evidence in support of such award”

            We submit therefore that American Friends Service Committee v Irene Chauke SC 1/2012 is an important case for those who wish to contest the presence or the absence of an employment relationship. It is also a useful case for those seeking to thwart damages that were awarded in the absence of evidence.

            306 Views

                  American Friends Service Committee v Irene Chauke SC 1/2012

            “There can be no doubt that the Labour Court fell into error in coming to this conclusion as it is settled law that damages in these circumstances must be properly proved by the party seeking the same”.

            Introduction

            In the Contemporary Employment Law in Zimbabwe, First Edition we indicated that the widely accepted test for determining if an employment relationship exists between the parties is the dominant impression test. This test looks at all the facts of the interaction between the parties to determine if indeed there was an employment relationship. Aspects such as the control of the employee by the employer, supervision, and control must be fully considered. The test also looks at whether the employee was part of an organization. In such a test, therefore, there is no single decisive factor that the court considers. The totality of the evidence presented by the parties is fully considered.

            American Friends Service Committee v Irene Chauke SC 1/2012 deals with two important aspects of Zimbabwe’s employment law. First, it outlines the law that applies in a determination as to whether an employment relationship exists between the parties. Secondly, it also assesses and makes a decisive conclusion on the importance of evidence when it comes to the quantification of damages in lieu of reinstatement. These issues are discussed here.

            1. Facts

            The issue presented before the Supreme Court centred on whether or not a valid employer-employee relationship existed between the parties. The appellant had initially hired the respondent on fixed-term contracts up until September 2007. However, it was undisputed that the respondent continued to provide services to the appellant beyond this time frame. Her employment was extended on multiple occasions until its termination in June 2009. At the point of termination, she was earning a monthly salary of US$1,500 and was required to work five days per week and eight hours per day. Additionally, her role as office coordinator and programmer required her to report her activities to the regional office located in South Africa. The case at hand thus required a thorough examination of the employment relationship between the parties involved and to ascertain whether an employer-employee relationship existed between the parties.

            1. The court’s findings and the law

            The court found that on the facts, the respondent was an employee of the appellant. The fact that the respondent was earning a monthly salary of US$1,500 and was required to work five days per week and eight hours per day all pointed to the existence of an employment relationship.

            In addition to the above, the court also found that the arbitrator based his decision regarding the quantification of damages solely on an unsupported statement from the respondent. The Labour Court had accepted this claim without opposition from the appellant. The Supreme Court emphasized that damages in such cases must be properly substantiated by the party making the damages claim.

            Conclusion of the dispute

            The court’s view was that there was a need for the quantum of damages to be properly proved. The matter was remitted to the Labour Court for determination of the damages after evidence had been adduced.

            Own comment

            This case highlights the dominant impression test of determining whether an employment relationship exists between the parties. The fact that the Respondent was employed on a fixed-term basis. That he was paid a salary of USD 1500 and reported to superiors in South Africa all pointed to the existence of an employment relationship contemplated by the Labour Act. Every court faced with a dispute regarding the existence of an employment relationship is compelled to look at the totality of the evidence presented by the parties. This resonates well with what the Supreme Court indicated in Masango & Others v Kenneth & Another SC 41–2015 where the court ruled that:

             “…. what the parties call each other in such a contractual relationship, or what they perceive their relationship to be is not decisive and may actually be irrelevant. The court looks at the totality of the evidence and all the circumstances to determine the true nature of the relationship.”

            Equally so, the acceptance of damages by a court in the absence of evidence is not ideal. Several court judgements have emphasized the importance of leading evidence in order to support quantification proceedings. In Heywood Investments (Private) Limited T/A GDC Hauliers v Pharaoh Zakeyo SC32/2013 the Supreme Court ruled that:

            “What the court is not empowered to do is to award damages in the absence of any evidence in support of such award”

            We submit therefore that American Friends Service Committee v Irene Chauke SC 1/2012 is an important case for those who wish to contest the presence or the absence of an employment relationship. It is also a useful case for those seeking to thwart damages that were awarded in the absence of evidence.

            199 Views

            Contemporary Employment Law in Zimbabwe

            We are happy to share with you that we have a new book on the market.

            You may need to know that:

            1. 300 cases are used to explain several legal points in the book.
            2. It has a commentary on the Labour Amendment Act of 2023.
            3. It analyses the Labour Court Rules as amended in 2023.
            4. It outlines 30 cornerstones of workplace law.
            5. It analyses more than 50 employment law cases. It is only available in hard copy & has 370 pages.

            A preview can be downloaded here.

            878 Views

            Minimum Retrenchment Package Definition that’s missing from Act 11 of 2023

            This summary is based on our book, “Contemporary Employment Law in Zimbabwe” which you can only access as a hard copy. A preview of the book is available for download on this website, using this LINK.


            The Act now refers to two types of retrenchment packages,[1] that is a minimum retrenchment package as well as an enhanced retrenchment package,[2] which is negotiated and agreed upon between an employer and an employee. The definition of a minimum retrenchment package is missing from the Act 11 of 2023.

            When the Labour Amendment Bill of 2021 was produced it marked that the minimum retrenchment package was pegged at 1 month’s salary for two years served.[3] This was similar to the provisions in Act 5 of 2015 which also provided for 1 month’s salary for every 2 years served. Strangely, the provision that provided for the definition of a minimum retrenchment package is no longer there in Act 11 of 2023. This creates a gap which results in interpretation problems for employers and employees.

            A perusal of the whole section 12C shows a legislature that was making a distinction between a minimum retrenchment package and an agreed enhanced package. Section 12C (2) shows that the minimum retrenchment is payable in the absence of an agreed enhanced retrenchment package. Without ascribing a meaning to the minimum retrenchment package some of the provisions in section 12C become difficult to comprehend. For example, if an employer alleges that he or she cannot pay any part of the minimum retrenchment package it becomes mandatory for the same employer to still notify the retrenchment board and indicate that “the portion of the minimum retrenchment package that he or she can pay” is not  “less than twenty-five per centum of the total package.”[4] The reference in this section to 25% of the total minimum retrenchment packages means that the legislature envisaged that the “minimum retrenchment package” would be known beforehand. In the absence of the definition of a minimum retrenchment package in the Act, there is no objective way of calculating the 25% that should be strictly paid by an employer that cannot afford the minimum retrenchment package. This is a legal problem.

            The legal challenges caused by the absence of the definition of a minimum retrenchment package in the Act call for two options. The first option is for the legislature to amend the Act once more and provide a definition of a minimum retrenchment package. The second option is for the Bill to be taken into consideration in understanding the definition of the minimum retrenchment package. This will be in line with the Interpretation Act (Chapter 1:01) which provides for the use of extrinsic material in the interpretation of enactments.[5] If such an approach is taken, one would realise that extrinsic information such as “any explanatory memorandum relating to the Bill containing the provision, or any other relevant document, that was laid before or furnished to members of Parliament by a Minister before the time when the provision was enacted;” can be used to interpret the legislative provision.[6]

            If the second approach is taken and if this is indeed seen to be practical, the inescapable conclusion one might reach is that a minimum retrenchment package of 1 month’s salary for every year served was contemplated by the legislature when section 12 C of the Act was promulgated under Act 11 of 2023. The definition of the minimum retrenchment package was there in Bill. It was not different from what it was under Act 5 of 2015. This is the definition that the legislature must have had in mind when it enacted the whole of section 12C of the Act. The temptation to be escaped in the circumstances is where an employer plucks figures from the air and then ascribes them to the definition of a minimum retrenchment package. The legislature must not have contemplated such a haphazard approach.


            [1]               Section 12C (1) of the Act as amended.

            [2]               Section 12C (1) of the Act as amended.

            [3]               The Labour Amendment Bill provided: “minimum retrenchment package” means one months’ wages for every two years served (and the proportionate amount for every part of a year served). Unless better terms are negotiated and agreed between the employer and the employee or employees concerned or their representatives, a minimum retrenchment package shall be paid by the employer as compensation for retrenchment not later than the date on which the retrenchment takes effect”.

            [4]               Section 12C(9) of the Act provides: “Where an employer alleges lack of capacity to pay any part of the minimum retrenchment package— (a) the employer shall within fourteen days of any employee being retrenched comply with subsection (5)(b) as if reference to minimum retrenchment package in that provision is a reference to the portion of the minimum retrenchment package that he or she is able to pay not being less than twenty-five per centum of the total package and subsections (6) and (7) shall apply to that portion accordingly”

            [5]               Section 15B of the Interpretation Act (Chapter 1:01).

            [6]               Section 15B(e) of the Interpretation Act (Chapter 1:01).

            1,167 Views

            Act 11 of 2023 Does not Authorise the Termination of Permanent Contracts on Notice.

            This summary is based on our book, “Contemporary Employment Law in Zimbabwe” which you can only access as a hard copy. A preview of the book is available for download on this website, using this LINK.


            Section 12(4a) (b) under Act 11 of 2023

            Section 12(4a) (b) of the Act provides that an employer can terminate a contract of employment in the following circumstances:

            “For the breach of an express or implied term of contract, upon such breach being verified after due inquiry under an applicable employment code or in any other manner agreed in advance by the employer and employee concerned.” (Own Emphasis).

            This section is subject to controversy as some practitioners are of the view that it gives the employer the right to terminate a contract on notice. The assumption by these practitioners is that the words “in any other manner agreed in advance by the employer and employee concerned” applies to the parties generally agreeing to a method of termination not provided under the whole section 12(4a). The argument goes on to suggest that the provision allows an employer and an employee to choose to terminate a contract on notice.

            In our respectful view, section 12(4a) (b) must be construed as a whole. We submit that the employer and employee may agree to a different method of inquiring into the alleged breach other than a method in the code of conduct. The word “inquiry” means “a request for information or a systematic investigation often of a matter of public interest or examination into facts or principles.”[1] The wording of the provision thus suggests that upon an employee being accused of breaching workplace rules, there must be an inquiry to verify this breach. There are two ways of verifying the breach. An investigation can be done as per the specifics of a code of conduct. The parties may also agree in advance on how they will conduct this investigation or inquiry.

            We submit that it is only after the investigation has been carried out and a subsequent hearing has been done that an employee can be deemed to have been fairly dismissed in terms of section 12(4a) (b) of the Labour Act. The same section cannot be used to propagate the view that the termination on notice was introduced in the Labour Act via the back door. Such an interpretation will fly in the face of section 12(4a) which has expressly excluded the termination of a contract on notice.

            Besides the above, we also submit that jurists must interpret legislation to protect the legislature’s intention. There is no doubt that after the infamous Zuva Petroleum judgment, and the enactment of Act 5 of 2015, the intention has been to curtail the termination of a permanent contract on notice. By expressly proving for the strict ways a contract can be terminated the legislature intended to make it clear that termination of a permanent contract on notice must be removed from our law. If one is to peruse the parliamentary debates on this issue, the clear message that was sent out was that the common law rule of terminating a contract on notice must not be available in the Labour Act. This was the intention of the legislature, and this is how section 12(4a) of the Labour Act must be interpreted.

            The interpretation that perpetuates the termination of permanent contracts on notice does not save and protect the legislative intention to preclude the termination on notice. The section must not be used to revive the ghost of 2015 which saw thousands of employees losing their jobs after the Zuva Petroleum judgement.


            [1]               https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inquiry <Accessed on 14 July 2023>.

            700 Views
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