Ten construction workers of BopCons Civil and Earth company downed their tools on 2 December due to alleged outstanding pay.
The employees, who are working on the construction of the K101 Le Roux Road in Midrand, were hired on a nine-month contract commencing in March and ending on 30 November. They claim that BopCons promised them an increment in August, backdated from July.
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Speaking on behalf of the workers, Thapelo Phofa, said that they were made to sign the increment agreement on their wage cards detailing a rise from R150 a day to R217 a day in August. However, they say they have not seen a cent of the promised increment yet. “We were very pleased with the news that we would be earning more, including the fact that the increment would be backdated to July. The company has been promising to pay us our money but we still haven’t seen a cent of it,” alleged Phofa.
The disgruntled workers said they were not trying to cause trouble for the company but all they wanted was their money before they part ways. Phofa explained, “It’s already the festive season, there is so much we want to do for our families but we can’t. How are we supposed to leave the company and go home without our money?
“When we come back next year to demand our money again, the company might even get us arrested for trespassing because we won’t be employees anymore. Although our contracts were extended to 9 December, how are we supposed to continue working while they haven’t paid us our money?”
Paul Santos a buying officer from BopCons Civil and Earth Works referred questions to the Johannesburg Roads Agency.
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Spokesperson for the entity, Bertha Peters-Scheepers said the agency was not responsible for labour disputes between contractors and their employees. “The agency awarded the construction contract to the contractor and, therefore, all labour-related matters between employees and the employer can only be responded to by BopCon Civils,” she said.
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