Southern African Catholic Bishops Disapointed In Mnangagwa Over Abuse Of Citizens

By Staff Reporter
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76316
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August 20, 2020

The Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference has urged Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa to respect fundamental human rights.

See full statement below:

SOLIDARITY STATEMENT TO THE BISHOPS AND THE CHURCH IN ZIMBABWE

We, the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) greet you in the name of our risen Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

We continue to note with increasing concern the unabated situation of repression in Zimbabwe, resulting in increasing hardship and suffering to the citizens.

We commend you for your prophetic voice in naming and condemning the brutalisation of ordinary people by security forces and the underlying corruption that has led to the total collapse of services to the people by the government.

As St. Paul informs us, “we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body” (Rom.12:5), and so the pain that you are going through, we feel it too.

The Catholic Church and its Bishops in Southern Africa stands in unconditional solidarity with you as leadership who are being targeted by the government and with masses of the people who are suffering from this situation.

Your Pastoral letter of Friday 14 August 2020 clearly describes the hardships and problems faced by Zimbabwe, and analyses the causes, which those in authority do not want to hear.

Your voice of encouragement to the people of Zimbabwe is what they needed to hear in this time of their greatest need.

It is opportune and appropriate that this letter was issued on the eve of the Feast of the Assumption of Mary.

We take hope from and hold on to the assurance given by Our Mother that, “God has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.” (Lk. 1:52).

It is most regrettable that instead of addressing the issues, the government through its Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, chose instead to target and insult Archbishop Robert Ndlovu as “evil minded”, projecting its own tribalistic agenda to fuel divisions in the country.

To you bishops and particularly to you Archbishop Ndlovu we remind you of what Jesus foretold about those who speak in his name that “they will seize you and persecute you” (Lk.21:12).

We pray that the Bishops and the Church will continue to speak prophetically, with the voice of God, and be the light that shines in the darkness”, and the darkness has not overcome it”, (Jn.1:5).

Keeping quiet is not an option and as shepherds of the people your voice of support gives hope to the people entrusted to you to carry on.

As your brothers and sisters in Southern Africa, we assure you of our support and prayers that this time of suffering in your country may soon come to an end.

Yours in Christ
Sithembele Sipuka
Bishop of Mthatha and President of the SACBC

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Employment Class Action Lawsuit: Wage, Overtime, and Worker Rights

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Employment Class Action Lawsuit: Wage, Overtime, and Worker Rights

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When one employee is underpaid, it may be a mistake. When hundreds or thousands of workers are underpaid in the same way, it may become an employment class action lawsuit.

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Employment class actions can help workers challenge company-wide policies that allegedly violate wage, hour, discrimination, or labor laws.

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These cases may involve unpaid overtime, off-the-clock work, misclassification, meal breaks, unpaid commissions, background check violations, or discriminatory practices.

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What Is an Employment Class Action?

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An employment class action is a lawsuit filed on behalf of a group of workers with similar legal claims against an employer.

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The workers may have been affected by the same:

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Pay policy
rnTimekeeping system
rnJob classification
rnBreak policy
rnCommission plan
rnBackground check process
rnHiring practice
rnScheduling practice
rnWorkplace rule

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In federal court, class actions must satisfy Rule 23 requirements, including common legal or factual questions and adequate representation.

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Common Employment Class Action Claims

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Unpaid Overtime

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Employees may claim they worked more than 40 hours per week but were not properly paid overtime.

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Off-the-Clock Work

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Workers may claim they were required to work before clocking in, after clocking out, during unpaid breaks, or while responding to messages outside scheduled hours.

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Misclassification

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Some workers may claim they were wrongly classified as independent contractors or exempt employees.

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Meal and Rest Break Violations

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State laws may require certain meal or rest breaks. Violations can affect many workers.

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Unpaid Commissions or Bonuses

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Sales employees may bring claims over unpaid commissions, incentive pay, or bonus plans.

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Discrimination Class Actions

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Workers may challenge company-wide discrimination in hiring, pay, promotion, or termination.

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What Evidence Helps Workers?

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Useful evidence may include:

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Pay stubs
rnTime records
rnSchedules
rnEmails
rnText messages
rnCompany policies
rnEmployee handbook
rnJob descriptions
rnCommission agreements
rnClock-in records
rnWitness statements
rnPerformance records

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Workers should save documents when legally allowed and avoid deleting important communications.

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Can You Be Fired for Joining a Lawsuit?

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Retaliation laws may protect employees who assert workplace rights. However, retaliation issues can be complicated.

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If you fear retaliation, speak with an employment lawyer before taking action.

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Class Action vs. Collective Action

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Wage cases may involve class actions, collective actions, or both, depending on the law.

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For example, some federal wage claims use a collective action process where workers may need to opt in.

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The exact procedure depends on the claim and jurisdiction.

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What Can Workers Recover?

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Employment settlements may include:

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Unpaid wages
rnOvertime pay
rnPenalties
rnInterest
rnPolicy changes
rnAttorney fees
rnInjunctive relief
rnRecordkeeping improvements

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The amount depends on the case, law, number of workers, and damages.

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What Employers Usually Argue

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Employers may argue:

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Workers were properly paid
rnEmployees were exempt
rnTime records are accurate
rnClaims are too individualized
rnClass treatment is improper
rnPolicies were lawful
rnDamages are overstated

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Employment class actions can be strongly contested.

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When to Contact an Employment Class Action Lawyer

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You may want legal help if:

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Many workers have the same pay problem
rnOvertime was denied
rnEmployees worked off the clock
rnBreaks were missed due to company policy
rnWorkers were wrongly treated as contractors
rnPay stubs do not match hours worked
rnA company-wide policy seems unfair or illegal

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Final Thoughts

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Employment class action lawsuits can help workers challenge widespread workplace violations.

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If your employer’s pay or workplace policy affected many employees the same way, legal options may exist.

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Save records, avoid guessing, and speak with a qualified employment attorney.

Artificial Intelligence and Automation Are Reshaping Global Industries

Artificial intelligence and automation technologies are transforming industries across the world at an unprecedented pace. Businesses are using AI-powered systems to automate repetitive tasks, analyze data faster, improve customer service, and increase operational efficiency. Industries including healthcare, banking, transportation, agriculture, and retail are all experiencing major technological changes driven by AI innovation.

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AI-powered chatbots, recommendation systems, fraud detection software, and predictive analytics tools are becoming common across digital platforms. Businesses are increasingly investing in machine learning technology to improve decision-making and reduce operating costs. In healthcare, AI systems are assisting doctors with diagnoses, patient monitoring, and medical research.

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Despite concerns about job displacement and privacy risks, experts believe artificial intelligence will continue driving economic growth and technological innovation. Governments and businesses are expected to invest heavily in digital infrastructure and workforce training programs over the next decade.