Private Security public hearings get workers and employers talking
Public hearings to review wages and conditions of employment in the security industry got off to a hectic start with heated debates between employers and workers about what a sector can afford.
The meeting, the first in a series set to end on March 6, were held in Klerksdorp, in the North West and Thohoyandou in Limpopo on Wednesday (today).
Workers, one after the other, were emphatic that the new minimum wage should be pegged at R5000.00 per month in all areas instead of the current level of R2800.00 per month.
Employers on the other hand, said their clients could not afford the increase, “How can we be expected to afford such a steep rise in wages when the economy is doing so badly and set to rise by 2 percent. If you insist on this R5000.00, we will introduce technology which will replace many of you”.
Kekulu Padi, from the department of Labour’s employment standards said “the purpose of the hearings was to gather inputs on the review of wages and conditions of employment in the sector”.
Turning to the conditions of employment, several workers said: “the time has come for the hours of work to be reduced to eight hours a day as opposed to the present twelve hours”.
In terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) Labour Minister should consult with stakeholders in the sector with the aim to source information in relation to the wage adjustment.
As things stands, the current minimum wages structure in the Private Security sector comes to an end on the 31 August 2015.
Enquiries:
Mokgadi Pela
Acting Ministerial Liaison Officer
Cell: 082 808 2168
Email: Mokgadi.Pela@labour.gov.za
