industry salaries
2 May 2006
The Department of Labour has called off public hearings on the Sectoral
Determination in the security industry, Minister Membathisi Mdladlana announced
today.
The Minister said the decision was due to the ongoing wage dispute between
security industry employers and the South African Transport and Allied Workers
Union (SATAWU) over the 11 percent wage increase demand by security guards who
have been on strike over the past four weeks.
âThe current environment in the sector where the 14 unions, employers and
SATAWU are not negotiating in order to reach an agreement is unacceptable and
would make it difficult for us to implement a sectoral determination,â he
said.
In terms of the law, public hearings are conducted by the Department of
Labour through the Employment Conditions Commission (ECC) to allow stakeholders
to make submissions on the planned sectoral determination.
As per the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, the ECC advises the Minister
on all matters pertaining to conditions of service, including remuneration.
Earlier today, Minister Mdladlana expressed concern at what he termed the
âarrogance displayed by security industry employersâ. âI assume that because
their profits are not affected by this strike that continues to cause harm to
ordinary South Africans, they do not care. Employers must remember that it is
the South African public that contributes to their riches,â he said.
Minister Mdladlana said the employers should realise that their agreement
with 14 unions was not worth the paper it was written on and is not
implementable as there is no Sectoral Determination. âI therefore appeal to
employers to swallow their pride and return to the negotiating table. SATAWU is
the majority union according to Labour Department official records. This
follows that no agreement can hold without their involvement,â he said.
Enquiries:
Mokgadi Pela
Cell: 082 808 2168
Website: http://www.labour.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Labour
2 May 2006
