FACTORY workers in Maputsoe remain in the dark as to whether or not to return to work, following their week-long demonstrations for improved wages.

The workers want the government to release gazettes for 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 salary increment.

In 2018 they managed to negotiate a M2 120 minimum wage and now they want an increment of 12 percent from their initially proposed 20 percent. 

“Although a directive from our factory said employees should report to work on Wednesday May 26, it is not clear as to whether or not the gazettes will have been released by then. For us who opted to continue working, it will be risky because many factories, with workers inside, were attacked by the protesters last week,” Mpefole Senatla who works for the Letsema Factory told Metro on Monday.

Another worker, Selebalo Habojaloe, complained that he only received M450 as salary due to the strike that led to other working days being not paid for by the employer because he was absent from work.

“I really do not know how my family is going to survive the coming month with commodities prices currently on the rise. My biggest fear now is being fired should the strike persist,” he said.

The Deputy General Secretory of NACTWU Tšepang Makakole has since shot down allegations doing rounds that some factory workers were fired after their week-long demonstrations.