Agronotech Precision Cultivation has postponed an appeal hearing for

eight dismissed cultivators which was scheduled for Wednesday, August 30.

The date according to the notice letter written by Director HR and Sustainability, Nick Icely was revised due to the non-availability of some the company`s principals.The letter however does not disclose the revised date.

The eight were fired due to a workplace misconduct on July 27 and they tendered their appeal on July 31st. Their employment termination followed a disciplinary hearing which was held on May 26, 2023 after they were placed on a paid suspension on February 7, 2023.

Their disciplinary hearing was postponed three times before it could happen.  The alleged charge against them as per the charge sheet was that “they entered an unprotected and unlawful strike on January 30 to February 03 in contravention of the Labour code of Lesotho and the code of conduct of Agronotech.”

However, those employees said their suspension came after they wrote to management on August 4, 2022 tabling their grievances about repetitive breach of contract regarding their salaries which had become a norm.

In an interview with the Agency,Former Cultivator, Mr. Tlotliso Nkejane said the move did not surprise them because they have learnt that that's how they operate, in their convenience disobeying the country;s Acts and policies they set for themselves as well.The Disciplinary Policy dictates that an appeal hearing should be convened within ten working days after the lodging of an appeal and they do not meet this time frame in what they described as exceptional circumstances beyond the company.

most unfortunate thing is that they have not paid our July salary as agreed. The Construction, Mining, Quarrying and Allied Workers Union  General Secretary, Mr. Robert Mokhohlane shared similar sentiments adding the employees dismissal was unfair as it violates Labour Code order of 1992, section 86 and 83.