Voluntary Slavery or Motivation: An Analysis of Factors That Motivates Shabanie Mine Workers to Stay in Unpaid Employment
Shoniwa G.N.K, Zirima H, Nyanga T, Dhomo T

Abstract
This study sought to explore what motivated Shabanie mine workers for more than two years to continually report for work without remuneration. A living wage and good working conditions are key antecedents to employee recruitment and retention in both the private and public sectors. Lowly remunerating employees usually lead to brain drain, labour turnover, high levels of absenteeism and other business ills. With the importance that is attached to remuneration, the study sought to find out what is keeping Shabanie workers in unpaid work, their survival strategies, activities engaged in at work, intensity of work related behaviours and workers suggestions on how their plight can be alleviated. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 34 Shabanie mine workers, 25 males and 9 females who were purposively sampled. Results indicated that the main motivating factor was their expectation that government would engage a new investor to start operations. To sustain themselves, the workers were largely doing piece works,, and stealing from the company. When they reported for duty, they reported that they carried out their duties as usual and some claimed that they put in more effort in their work than ever before. Participants suggested that their plight could be alleviated if the company paid workers their money, management and ownership changed and a new investor was engaged.

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