Glenwood UIP responds to ‘exploitation’ allegations
The worker said the UIP was paying them R75 a day, which fell below the country’s national minimum wage of R20 an hour.
A WORKER from the Glenwood Urban Improvement Precint (UIP) wrote to the Berea Mail accusing the organisation of exploitative practices.
The worker, who will remain anonymous, said the UIP was paying them R75 a day, which fell below the country’s national minimum wage of R20 an hour.
The worker explained they work as part of the Glenwood UIP’s 25 Ambassadors with a varied job description that includes cleaning, security, maintenance, car guarding and surveillance.
The worker said the work they do is not equal to the money they receive. They said the streets of Glenwood are kept neat and safe by them but they are not getting the appropriate compensation.
“Who will really survive with this money? We are renting, some of us are using public transport to come to work,” said the worker. “(We) have no other place to work or to get help to survive but the people at the UIP are exploiting us. We don’t get masks, no medical aid in case we get hurt while at work.”
Glenwood UIP responded to the allegations by saying that they are a non-profit organisation that is “viewed as a top up service for the municipality.”
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The GUIP said they have a service provider who patrols and does security but they approached the car guards to help in cleaning and sweeping the public spaces in exchange for a daily stipend of R75.
“The services of ambassadors are voluntary and they can choose to contract their services for up to a maximum of six days a week in respect of which they receive a weekly allowance. If any one of them chooses to work less than six days, the allowance is calculated pro rata” said Glenwood UIP in a written response.
The GUIP said it would be “erroneous” to say the ambassadors work eight hours a day, placing their hours at around two to three a day.
“The car guarding services in play are not provided on behalf of the GUIP. This aspect is at the sole discretion of each individual and the income derived from such is entirely their own. If an ambassador chooses to car guard after hours or on a seventh day, this is again his own decision.”
Stephen Rathai, Director of Employment Standards at the Department of Labour said “minimum wage applies to all workers.”
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