Scores of security industry bosses in KwaZulu-Natal have been
short-changing their employees by a collective R 1 373 516 in
outstanding wages – a direct contravention of the law – since last
year.
Labour inspectors conducting searches in the province have charged
47 companies with deliberately flouting the law that prescribes a
minimum wage in the sector, and ordered them to pay the outstanding
wages.
Since October 2007, Durban Labour Centre’s Security Sector Task Team
has resolved almost 62 percent of the 2 432 complaints lodged by
employees and unions for underpayment of wages, non-payment of leave
pay, bonuses, Sunday Work, Public holidays and illegal deductions for
uniforms.
In some cases, it was found that penalties from clients for inferior
security services being rendered were illegally deducted from the wages
of security officers by the employer.
Topping the list of violators in the sector for non-payment of leave
and bonuses is Isidingo Security which owes it’s employees more than
R409 000, followed by Noluvo Security that owes R306 309, 56, while
Indlondlo Security has defaulted by R248 755, 59.
The task team was established to focus on the sector as a result of
the high level of non-compliance, and has already intensified
inspections at companies operating in Durban, Umhlanga, La Lucia,
Newlands, Kwa Mashu, Westville, Malvern, Lamontville, Merebank and the
Bluff areas.
Lack of co-operation from employers, obstruction of labour
inspectors from conducting inspections, as well as ignoring of
subpoenas has prompted the referral of compliance orders to the Labour
Court. The department awaits trial dates for all the cases
referred.
The department has urged businesses and clients of security
companies to check whether employers adhere to labour legislation when
tenders are awarded.
The minimum monthly wage for security officers as prescribed in the
Sectoral Determination for the Security Sector are for Grade A
officers(R2991,00 ), Grade B(2544, 00) Grade C (R 2 020, 00), Grade
D(1851, 00) and Grade E(1758, 00).
