Amaryllis Hotel owners deploy blackmail tactics to workers
Encountered by the reality of workplace malpractice exposure, owners and some senior managers at Amaryllis Hotel have deployed blackmail tactics on employees to appear as if they have a clean record on service and operations management.
The development has created chaos, further hitting on employees productivity in service delivery.
All this comes in the wake of last week’s Nyasa Times publication about rampant workers abuse that have become a feature at the hotel. According to current and former employees, the abuses are dismissal of employees on a daily basis without proper procedure and harassment.
Some of the issues that have lead to instant dismissals are trying to get some fresh air after working in sweltering heat, going to the loo during working hours, having lunch or supper within the hotel structure, slight delays when reporting for duties, using the elevator when the bosses are in, while others have face the chop for trying to elaborate issues to bosses which is deemed rude.
Amaryllis Hotel Chief Executive Officer Yusuf Shiraz, is a local Managing Partner at Ernst & Young and his son Yusuf Shiraz Jnr. is the hotel’s general manager who convinced South Africa’s Food Lovers Market to become a franchise holder in addition to getting clients for the newly established hotel.
To shield themselves from the wrath of non-compliance to good business practices in the eyes of their local and international business partners and clients, the two, have been rounding up employees to have them sign a form under duress whose contents tries to deny the workplace abuses that the family has been directing at employees.
Employees say the owners have been raging mad and throwing fits on those hesitant or asking for more time before they sign the form. The say Amaryllis management intends to use signed forms as backup that all is well when questioned on the issue by authorities and interest groups.
A copy of the form accessed by Nyasa Times, shows that it is backdated to 24th March, 2020, a day prior to the exposure of the abuses.
“I acknowledge that at Amaryllis hotel, we are provided with the required benefits that include food during working hours, and that to the best of my knowledge there is no victimisation or intimidation of any kind within the organisation. I also acknowledge that I am not aware of any termination that has happened to employees,” part of the form reads.
The hotel’s employees say they have been issued with a warning that any of them who does not sign the form by Friday this week will be fired.
“They want us to sign something which to us is certifying a lie so that they can save their faces when Government officials and business partners question them about this issue. It is even worse that they are going the same route of threatening to fire us. It is blackmail,” the employees say.
They added that hotel management heavily discourages them from joining any workers’ union or forming one.
Malawians in the city have called upon authorities and rights groups to swiftly take up the issue.
“Yes the country needs investors to create jobs and earn a share of business on the international market, however, issues of workers abuse and dismissals based on flimsy excuses coming from the new hotel must never be entertained. This is what both the civil society, yes these national workers unions plus popular rights groups, and Malawi government should address. We are talking of people’s lives here,” said Kondwani Malunga a Blantyre resident.
Since its official launch some months ago, the confirmed figure for dismissed employees at Amaryllis Hotel is now over 120.
When the issue emerged last week, newly appointed Minister of Labour, Skills and Innovation Honourable Lilian Patel assured workers in Malawi that their rights are there to be protected at all times but asked for more time to specifically address the Amaryllis Hotel issue.
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The Yufuf again? Shiraz Yusuf’s stars are not aligned and I can see lots of troubles coming his way. Lots of cloud over his head. I hope he prays. Sadly, Shiraz is a fake Muslim. His heart is really harsh. He is a greedy man despite some token charities. His dad is a good man, so he can still be saved. How can Shiraz plan to set up a new bank while at the same time leading a firm that consults for banks and owners of banks. So he is going to compete against his clients now after having full access to their confidential information and documents? Ersten Young must really be blind to allow this. I know the man. For Shiraz, there is never a conflict of interests. Anything is permissible provides that it makes money to him and to his family. No friends! You cannot take Shiraz’s promise to the bank as he would have a change of hearts by the time he bids you goodbye. As a Muslim myself, I do not stand seeing any fellow Muslim drink as much as this fellow does. This article is an eye opener. Chodabwitsa komansa chodabwitsa
Great article
Shame on EY for being represented in Malawi by such a shady character. My boss who is based in Nairobi was going to come to Blantyre and he initially wanted to stay at Amaryllis then changed his mind after he read a disturbing post on Travelocity about discrimination (aparteid) against black employees at Amaryllis. This travelocity post confirms the point made by the Nyasa Times article. A real shame in 21st century. One day, this Shiraz man will definitely get his payback. God always watches silently and patiently until a appropriate time to teach us a lifetime lesson. Shiraz man will be accountable for his deeds and no one will feel sorry for him, not even his fellow amwenyes who do not like him
I am so glad I read this article. I love Malawi. I work for EY in South Africa. I know Shiraz well and consider him a friend. He is a good guy but I am not surprised to see the side of him that your article describes. He can be extremely greedy. Shiraz has been in trouble at EY and it will be interesting how his partners react to his activism in business. They will wonder how much time he devotes to EY business. I can guess what their answers will be. I am really disappointed at my friend Shiraz. He must take a step back and perhaps leave EY while he can still do so on his own. Really sad!
Hotel Employes should Form there Own UNION with Strong Reprenstative and Lawyer
Anybody who knows this family well, knows this is just how they operate. They are cruel and believe in intimidation & abuse of power. A lot of people have suffered and are suffering under their management. Just go to Amaryllis or EY and ask around, people who work under them shall rarely have anything good to say about them.
I am surprised that this article is still up. They haven’t bribed or threatened anyone yet?
The amount of unfair dismissals at Amaryllis, the cases go silent at the Labour office. Many people leave without their benefits. A lot of unlawful practices happen there. The Human resources manager now is just a puppet with no say. The previous HR who spoke out was issued a warning and was forced to take leave (somehow a suspension).
I feel the Ministry of Labour needs to do more to protect employees. They should investigate.
Boss, I am surprised too that this article is still up. I was expecting that by now Yusuf would have bullied people to take it down. I think he does not care. He thinks that he owns this country. He goes around saying that has every politician (DPP, UDF, MCP, PP or else) and judge in his hands. If that is true, then the dog can bark, the trailer will move on. No one can stop Yusuf in this country. The Ministry of Labour will not dare knocking at his door to defend Yusuf’s poor employees. MRA will not either, not to a good and loyal friend. Yusuf is friends with presidents in the region. He is friends with key civil servants, ministers, former ministers, parliamentarians, and even all the way down to their secretaries. He is rich and nothing can’t stop him, I am afraid. He is about to start a bank with some big foreign money. NBM, CDH and FDH have better watched out since his bank will shake them up and drive a couple of them down with huge capital base. The man has it all and feels that he can treat our people like nothing. Yes we are nothing but we are proud of our country. Frankly I am not sure if Yusuf really works for more than 5 minutes a day for Ernst. The man is powerful. Kudos to Nyasa Times. This is real journalism that makes us proud
Fully agreed. Yusuf is too influencial bc he has been the head and face of Ernst Young too long. It is about time that Ernst put an order in this unless they prefer shaddy and unethical stuff. Malawian people of influence, pls use your contact and make sure that Ernst does not continue to overlook Yusuf’s bully and abuse. Being an asian in this country, I don’t like someone giving us a bad reputation. We asians want to build Malawi and Malawi is our country. We must blend it in order to do well and be safe. Yusuf Shiraz is just an outliner, so I hope
Yusuf Shiraz and his Kuwaiti friends who want to set up an Halal bank in Malawi. Unbelievable! RBM is a professional institution headed by a seasoned banker who understand banking regulations very well. In our regulatory framework were the interest is a key monetary and economic policy instrument, Halal bank has no place. Yusuf will use this as another tool to blow smoke and make easy money for himself and his Kuwaiti friends. Malawians are not that dump to fall for it. Yusuf, please stop. Nyasa Times must also investigate this
Most of our youth are lazy bones, you try to correct them they will rush against you. kungofuna ndalama osagwira ntchito. kugona 3am chifukwa cha whatsapp then mkumapita kuntchito 8:30 akakuchotsani ndiye muyambe kuwanyelera!!!!! Amwene ayamba lero kuchotsa anthu ntchito??? ngati muli ndi madando ospita ku labor office bwanji? why destroying other people’s business efforts. Even if you press for its closure, they will go elsewhere and do business. Ineyo ndalembapo ntchito achinyama akumalawi koma amwene, mbuli za ana. ku school palibe chomwe akuchitako, kumangokwerana basi and sharing nude pics. f””””king lecturers and getting free grades. Akayamba ntchito akufuna udziwakwera cholinga adzikubera. If you dont do why expect of you doing, be on the look out akuonongera mbiri mma social media. We only have a few boys and girls in Malawi who are working hard, staying focused and changing their lives while the rest, you are the best judge. Isiyeni hotel iyi. Ok, if they have their weakness, engage them, make some demands that they improve osati zowaipitsira mbiri anthu osalakwa, its not fair. Im wondering some of you are writing good english but your content is trash why? Smear campaign. Im very concerned. Interview those who were dismissed and see how much they have in their IQ, below par koma matama, kumangogwedeza matako mu hotel basi looking for trouble. Hooking ma hotel customer. Inunso a Hotel please employee a few dedicated young people to reduce this trouble. Malawian youth are impossible.
It’s normal for employers to have their employees sign such documents. They are legal in nature. ESCOM has done this last year.
However, the issue of mistreating workers shud be dealt differently. This issue is abig one in Asian-related companies. It’s high time our labour laws were taken into seriously by employers. These investors may use divide and rule or spy on your friend tactics. These cannot work if employees are organised or individually they cannot accept to be manipulated.
Yusuf Shiraz Yusuf your attitude is same like
Altaf A s investments he used to do the same
To his workers and the end he shoot his truck
Driver who told him I will report what dirty work you have made me do.
Chamba export to jozi
Altaf Sattar is driving Duty free cars on Member of parliament names
Secondly his 2 sons are doing drugs with associated suppliers son shameel who killed zahira akbanie
wow, you’ve got so much information. Why don’t you tell us who you really are and confront us with your big mouth. You’re a chicken; and you’ve got no life whatsoever. Go drown yourself. Also go for a mental health check because something up there is definitely loose.
I wonder who you really are and work for?
This series of articles against Amaryllis hotel are being sponsored by rival hotels who are feeling threatened.
Shiraz Yusuf is a fake Muslim who pretends to believe in Allah, for show buz. He really gives a bad name to Asian businesses and to Erstn Young. Ernst Young must moving Yisuf out. Yusus is now toxic. I know him well and pray with him at the mosque. He is all pretence. He should resign from Erntn Young and focus on his hotel, before Erstn Young fire him. Yusuf is in deep trouble. I read the star and his is not aligned
For F’s Sake HR!!! Get a good one again !!! Stop being so useless!!!
Shiraz stop drinking and smoking wead
This will destroy your life,your daughter inlaw
Was found with rubbers at school you have forgotten.
Please treat your workers in proper manner
Folks, behind bold pronouncements like this one there is some top DPP/Government corrupt strongman who, most likely, has sold Malawi to foreigners for a song.
Why NYASA TIMES has removed the First Article and News Report from there Web Site?
All the comments are very Good but one question should be asked from Ministry of Labour and APM the Letter given to the Enployees is it Legally Correct? Can any Employer get such kind of Letter Signed from Employees? The Letter given to Employees it self shows that the Management and Shiraz Yusuf and His Son are doing some thing WRONG other wise NO company in Malawi gives such Kind of Letters to Employees and if they have said that if any Employee does NOT sign this letter will be terminated After Friday which is Pure BLACK MAIL to Malawians
MALAWIANS SHOULD FIGHT FOR THERE RIGHTS AND WAKE UP
Is Shiraz Yusuf and His Son Real Muslim? We do NOT think so going for NAMAZ for 5 Times a Day does NOT make a person TRUE Muslim ?
Because they have Forgotten the Ethics and Principles of Muslim Religion?
Ernest & Young does Not Carry a Good Image in Malawi Just Ask the Ex Employees of Ernest & Young
Shiraz Yusuf was also Chased out of Partner Ship from Malawi Sun Hotel within Short Period of time as he was Imposing His Terms and Conditions to the Partners of Malawi Sun Hotel
The Journalist of NYASA TIMES should investigate the same also
Abale if you want mwenyes out then the admin of this page will have to also leave the uk and come back here unfortunately.
We don’t want personal vendetta mr reporter. we want stories. You cant write the same thing about the same company just because of some personal issue you might have with them mr reporter. Be serious. No wonder you are not an actual media group.
Stupid
Kodi guyz are we punishing pipo for investing in the country? At least these pipo who are complaining about the yusuf have jobs. Atleast amwenye don’t discriminate and employ our fellow malawians. If you want to fight, let us fight for those who don’t have jobs and are being burnt for stealing 1 tomato. Let us fight for those who are doing actual.injustice to us.
Koma guys with this blaming game a d threats to chase amnweye away, we are the ones who will starve just like Zimbabwe. We need the mwenyes just the way they need us. Let us change our thinking and we will move ahead the way every other country in Africa has moved ahead. Half of us on this thread have family who are employed by amwenyes and are being paid fairly if not very well. The other half of us have family employed by put fellow blacks and are being treating badly and not being paid fairly. Kodi where is the justice in that?
Yusuf Shiraz; Ernsest and Young should be ashamed
Why don’t we black employees fight for our rights against our fellow black employers who are clearly violating our rights. They pay our fellow marawians less than the minimum wage. Kodi bwanji. We pipo are complaining about the Yusuf when they have employed our own brothers and sisters and given them fair salaries. I have worked for blacks in Malawi and abale diku uzeni kuti they don’t treat us as we are meant to be treated.
Don’t hate just because the hotel had to let go of a few employees as most companies haveto at times. Guyz, with this kind of racist and stupid thinking we will never go ahead like our fellow africans. Zo ona. We are left behind only because of our own actions. Let us take responsibility and let us move ahead. Kodi what I’m trying to say is we should not blame others.
Walemba iyi mwati si mwenye maku hotel konko
Ku naama ayi.Pano chilungamu. Take responsibility
MR. Shiraz Yusuf has bad advizers, this Fire Fighting will backfire. Change course after being exposed.
put your comments on trip advisor reviews and u will see this hotel close down.
achina shiraz amadya limodzi ndi mabwana a boma. so yuo can imagine and have answers.
uyu ndi mmwenye, ,hotelo yake cabwino, zimacitika mma office a bomazi nanga!!!!
kungotenga mwana wao,
wa aunt
wa uncle
asibwenietc ndikungobweretsa mu office nkuuza amkhala kale kuti mpatseni desk ,office oyo computer pha pompo munthu sanagwileko computer, mwakemo kumangoti apa mmatani,izi nditani,
yes no contract sogned, no terms and conditions read, wangouzidwa pakamwa no formal interview,what do you expect to do at the office,or yokoza tea yomweyi kumuikapo m bale emwe sanakozeko tea olondekeka thana masamba ndi sugar ,olo wa ku kantini.
akakhala atsikana kugona kae ndi bwanayo, then matenda, abwanaozibwezi mbwee ,akazao matenda, atsikanaoso zibwezi zao matenda.mavuto.
mma kabineti ma MP sizokhazokhazi, no wonder tili nao a ma profesor,etc ogula ma certificate, ma diploma like mchacha .munaonaci party comwe cinacitika when he claimed wamaliza diplomayo????? from our taxes tu.
check what he can do =0/10
walemera in 5 months. etc.
m boma anthu sapita ku ncito daily, sakafika ku office ngati momwe zinalili nthawi ya kamuzu.noone used to complain.
nthawi imeneija umanva anthu a mwa cesomba,manje, ndilande ,bangwr mma 5pm akupita ku david whitehead,ku mkaka company , cold storage a shift coyamba 6am. lelo bwana amabweta 10 am ku office,10 mis later wanyamuka okalongosola personal business za manyumba,ma uvuni ,and gets paid from our taxes
SO MMWENYE YU OFCOURSE SINDIKUMUKHALILA KUMBUYO, MLANDU WAKE MUYAMBILA PATIPOOOOOO?
A malawi penyukani masooooooo
hahahahah Malawi wake up ,the Shirazs are the ones bringing bread on your table ,the most funny thing is that you only know how to complain but you don’t know ow work diligently to please your bosses .From now onwards plz try to work hard and see what the shirazs will do ,they will surprise you one day ,but complaining and planning to go on strike will make things worse,UFULU OPANDA NAWO ZOKUYENEREZA NDI MBOLA.
Amwene akutitola kwabasi. People like Mtambo and HRDC should be fighting for these poor workers who are being tortured by Shiraz and Amaryllis.
i agree
Pafuka utsi pali moto. These stories are terrible. Government should make sure that they punish the owners and managing team.
Just chase the owners.
Amaryllis MUST FALL. We are tired of abusive work behaviours.
Amaryllis should be punished and made an example of so that other Asians should know that this in not their country.
So are you trying to say that one has to be indegenious Malawian to call it your country even if your grandfather came in the 30s but you happen to be Asian..so if you go by your thinking Obama is a Kenyan as his grandfather is from Kenya . There are so many Europeans of African origin and they have been accepted as citizens of that country . It has to be two way traffic. You can’t expect Malawi to be only for Africans and yet a lot of Africans happen to be european and American citizens.
.
How on earth would an employer make workers sign this. Labour Minister Lilian Patel should act on this and strongly tell Amaryllis they will be thrown out of our country
Chase out of Malawi.Remember Idi Amini he chases them from uganda
Aren’t you the one who was caught stealing at amaryllis and sacked from your job.
Under international law one cannot deport citizens of malawi just because they are Asians . A lot of Asians staying in Malawi are citizens
Amaryllis needs to be closed straight away.
We can’t sit whilst Amaryllis is torturing our fellow Malawians
Government need to chase these amwenes out of Malawi.
Some of the Asians happen to be citizens of Malawi so I don’t think one can chase them out.
Let’s clear this matter once and for all. I have seen a lot of comments from Malawians about all mwenyes to be thrown out from the country. There are some issues here. Firstly if one follows international law you cannot deport a citizen of the country and a lot of Asians are Third generation Malawian citizens and those who are not are either permanent resident British citizens or Indian nationals who have come to this country on a work permit .The British citizens of asian origins who are residing here can be thrown out but do you think Britain Europe and America are gonna be sitting watching and not doing anything about it. It will mean sanctions similar to Zimbabwe which will mean 80 percent unemployment starvation and inflation of 500 percent. No country will be able to buy our tobacco or tea . That remains with one group indian nationals who can be thrown out without any serious repercussions.the only thing I can think about is India is gonna stop Malawians to come to India for medical treatments. So anyone who wants mwenyes out should consider the above points
We black employees need to wake up. All of us are going to stand outside the gate on Monday morning And no one of us is going to go inside. We will wait for the owners to make a decision and hear from them the new terms of employment before we make a decision. If all else fails we will strike until we are given what we require which is basic human rights.
Shaa
The employees should all quit the same day. Let’s see if these idiot amwenyes won’t come begging for them to come back when their guests notice that there’s no breakfast and the beds are not being made. Kuipa kwake, if they quit, nyani wina will show up to volunteer his services. And you wonder why we continue getting disrespected.
Are your readers and users aware of your attempts to blackmail companies in order to take down articles that you’ve written about them?
Are your readers also aware that you have not taken out the time to get two sides of the story… this is targeted and untrue journalism. You guys have a professional obligation to hear out both parties.
I can guarantee that you will not actually allow for this comment to be posted !
This is a great investigative journalism. Can the journalist also investigate how can this Shiraz man be heading such a mega hotel and also be the lead partner of Ernst Young? Ernst Young is a serious company but in Malawi, it has a very bad reputation. None of its client is happy with the company. Shiraz gets by bribing. Most times he does not submit reports yet he gets paid in full. His clients who pay him without the report know why they do so. Malawians also know why they do so. Ernst Young employees are resigning when they can find another job. News is that one of his clients is being sued because of Shiraz’s poor advice to them. Ernst Young must wake and smell the roses before it too is sued. Malawi deseave better that this man who is slavering Malawians in their own country. His international partners can surely see his actions and will get to him when the opportunity arises. I am a muslim and no good muslim drinks so much hard liquor as to be drunk! All in all, this is great investigative journalism. I am proud of you
Management should close the hotel for a few months, then re-hire employees after vetting each and every person, for past performance, etc.
This is a good read except that it seems all too personal to have one employer featured on the same story in a space of less than 2 weeks when there might be other employers with stories worth writing about as well!
You have a goat head. If Nyasatimes featured a story on the abuse by these croocked Amwenyes, don’t you think that it a public interest for Malawians to get feedback?? Please note that Malawians will never be enslaved again. We are will neither be an Indian colony.
Please let’s not pretend that Malawi is a super power. We survive here on handouts meaning foreign aid including aid from India.
Dear Red, your defense of Yusuf is not solid. I agree that the article is good. This second article is about the “blackmail” that he has pre-dated to prepare for an eventual defense. Any good investigative journalist would have written a follow up article. It is the best way to insure that this Yusuf man start being accountable. Reporting on a crime is good even if the motive may or may not be “too personal”. The man is bad! IT IS TIME FOR ERNST YOUNG TO FIRE HIM. I am proud of Mike Fiko, the journalist. Mike, please keep up the good work and do not be intimidated, Allah will protect you. Amine Ya Allah!
No jumping from one story to another before finalising issues. Once this employer is dealt with we will move to another. We are coming after you all abusers.
Does it also include Malawians who are abusing their fellow Malawians? Or is it for Asians only because you are all angels.who are the ones who burn their fellow Malawians alive just over few stolen maize.
Shiraz and his son running that big hotel like Zikomo lodge. The financiers of that project should force Shiraz to enter into a hotel management agreement with reputable brands like Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott. If these issues continue it will turn into another white elephant…Koma poti ife tilibe ndalama, a Botoman akuti tiziyenda wapansi.
Its indeed very pathetic to leave the running of this magnificent Hotel into the family. More especially the son is so arrogant that he cannot manage the employees of this magnitude. I agree that if they don’t change the management team, this hotel is heading to yet another white elephant. The Minister should intervene asap!!!
The financiers are smart. They are waiting for him to go burst so that they can take it for one tambala! There is no way they will survive unless they find ways to fund this hotel with chamba trade! The Yusufs are baddest!!!