Kasi Construction Company which is constructing Nawiwawa Road in Zomba has failed to pay K1.2 million terminal benefits to ten employees which the company terminated.

The company dismissed the employees on November 2, 2022 who allegedly informed the visiting labor office inspection team about the abuse they faced at the company.

Speaking on Wednesday, One of the concerned citizen workers Jonathan Pangani said labor officials called for a meeting to talk about working conditions and the employees complained about unavailability of a toilet and personal protective equipment and other challenges.

“It appears that our boss was angry that we told labor officials about our challenges; this is what might have angered management who immediately summoned us for questioning and later announced of our dismissal,” Pangani said.

District Labor Officer for Zomba, Innocent Banda described the company as ‘stubborn’ because they have engaged the company on several occasions.

“Each time we remind them about the money, they keep changing tone, we will continue to engage them but should there be no compromise, we will proceed by filing case in court,” Banda said.

According to the contractor Titule Msukwa, those sacked were not employees but rather casual laborers.