Labour on memorandum received by striking security guards

23 March 2006

The Department of Labour today (Thursday) reiterated Minister Mdladlana’s
call on both employers and strikers in the security industry to urgently seek
an amicable solution to their ongoing wage dispute.

The disagreement culminated in nationwide work stoppages by private security
guards in support of their 11 percent wage hike demand.

About 30 000 protesters marched to the Labour Ministry’s offices in Pretoria
where they handed over a memorandum of grievances.

The memorandum declared that more than half of employers in the entire
industry were flouting the government’s Basic Conditions of Employment Act,
particularly the sectoral determination and the provident fund.

The marchers urged the Labour Ministry to intensify enforcement of these
laws and to review the current minimum wages in the sector.

Senior Department officials who accepted the memorandum on behalf of
Minister Mdladlana assured the workers’ leaders that it would receive the
Minister’s attention as soon as he returned to the office.

They expressed Minister Mdladlana’s keenness to see an amicable breakthrough
in the dispute and once again urged both parties to return to negotiations for
consensus.

Enquiries:
Mokgadi Pela
Cell: 082 808 2168
Web: www.labour.gov.za

Issued by: Department of Labour
23 March 2006