Workers from the government-sponsored Community Workers Programme (CWP) marched to the Department of Public Works in Pretoria Monday, demanding permanent jobs, better wages and improved conditions.

Led by the Maanda Ashu Workers Union (Mawusa), workers gathered at the Old bus depot in Marabastad, then marched to the department’s head office on Madiba Street to deliver their memorandum of grievances.

Part of the memorandum highlighted that contracts of 3,200 workers were terminated unlawfully and that workers are paid less than the agreed amount.

Cedric Chauke, national organiser of Mawusa, said workers also complained that they have been denied tools of trade for the past three years.

He explained that, under the occupational health and safety law, if workers lack the required tools and personal protective equipment (PPE) they can still sign in, clock on and wait for the material.

“If the employer does not provide for it, it can not be your fault. With the little stipend that we are earning we can not risk ourselves by working without PPE and the right tools to do our work. We don’t get medical aid cover and we earn less. So, we can not take risks,” he said.

He pointed out that CWP supervisors are not reimbursed for travel claims and end up footing the bill to hop between sites, monitoring the workers.

Chauke said: “There are workers that are owed by the government due to technical errors in their payment system. There are some months where workers don’t get their stipends at all. The government is quiet on that issue.”

He expressed concern that workers are signing contracts for R3,700 but they are only receiving R1,900 per month, “which means the rest of the money goes to the middle man”.

He slammed the government’s “arrogant, non‑caring” stance on the CWP, saying: “We have been engaging for 15 years, yet we work for the state but get no benefits. You need at least R1,800 for food, but they still underpay us.” 

Lesego Seleke, 54, a 15‑year veteran of the programme in Mogale City, decried the lack of PPE and a string of fruitless memorandums. “In 2023, during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address, we even went to Cape Town to hand the same memorandum to parliamentarians,” she said.

She reiterated that workers do not have tools of trade and the government is refusing to give them an increase.

“As workers we are demanding our money and we want to work for five days in a week instead of two days in a week. We have children who are attending school and we also are expected to pay for electricity and water services,” she said.

Another beneficiary Nkgadi Kgase from Tembisa township, said it was disappointing that workers are forced to clean dumping sites without proper PPE. 

“We don’t have material to go patch up potholes. We don’t have boots and we don’t have gloves. If we can’t do the work we are threatened with disciplinary actions,” she said.

Deputy director-general Adam Mthombeni, who received the memorandum, promised to respond to workers’ issues within seven days.

“We will study their memorandum and we would respond to their issues around the plight of the workers,” he said.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

Source link