The Star reports that, after parading in-sourced security guards at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, the City of Joburg is now being accused of exploitation.
The Association of Private Security Owners of SA said assertions made by Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba on the benefits of in-sourcing were proving to be contrary to what has transpired since the 1 800 security personnel were hired in July.
“The current working conditions faced by the in-sourced employees are tantamount to exploitation practices which were levelled against the private security employers who rendered security services to the city,” union general secretary Moses Malada said.
This was confirmed by one of the employees, who spoke to The Star on condition of anonymity.
“Security guards are made to work more than 200 hours as opposed to 196 hours as stipulated on our appointment letters. We work 22 shifts but are only paid for 14.
“We are supposed to work 48 hours per week but that does not happen. When we have to get paid we take home less than R7,000. Some guards earn just above R5 000,” the employee said, adding that since July 1 they had not been paid for overtime, Sunday and holiday allowances, as stipulated in their contracts.
Malada said that when the employees were appointed by the city, they were contracted to work for 16 days per month.
“They are now subjected to work for more than 22 days without being compensated for overtime, Sundays and holidays. About 200 of the 1,800 in-sourced employees have not received their salaries since having commenced their duties in July,” Malada said.
Mayoral spokesperson Luyanda Mfeka said the purpose of in-sourcing 4,000 guards was to “provide security personnel with the dignity of decent pay”.
He said the city had held a meeting to discuss the issue of allowances and had resolved that the “payment of allowances be paid in January 2019”.
“Joburg metro police boss David Tembe approved the payment of these allowances (Sunday, public holidays and night shift, overtime) on December 10,” Mfeka said.
“The claim that 3,000 workers are left in limbo is not true. The city has always communicated that in-sourcing of persons is to take a phased approach.
“The city ensured that all qualifying persons who were previously employed by service providers, of which their contracts were terminated during phase 1, were all employed via this in-sourcing process,” Mfeka said.
He also denied that 200 employees were not paid since July.
“Only 83 payments are currently outstanding as a result of some security officers not reporting for duty, while others are still yet to provide relevant documentation for payments to be made,” Mfeka said.
The original of this report by Sibongile Mashaba appeared on page 2 of The Star of 14 December 2018
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