LIMPOPO – If word of worker representatives in the Groblersdal Mall construction project is anything to go by, the date of completion faces delay if the main contractor does not speedily respond to workers’ demands.
Worker representatives allege the main contractor is not in compliance with provisions of the Labour Relations Act, 1995 with regard to payments.
Project Steering Committee Member, Collen Shai, said they raised the matter with the main contractor in November last year.
“Workers are paid R120 per day instead of R264,33 as stipulated in the Labour Relations Act, 1995. The Labour Relations Act, 1995 requires that general workers must be paid R29,37 per hour, which the main contractor in this project is not in compliance with,” said Shai.
He alleged there were workers from distant places such as Mbombela (Nelspruit) who were given only R200 fortnightly for groceries instead of the initially agreed to payments.
“Work at the project has been stopped until the main contractor complies with the Act and pay people accordingly. Their delay in response to our demands will stall the project as no work will continue until they comply with the requirements in terms of rates workers should be paid stipulated in the Act,” Shai added.
The Groblersdal Mall construction project started in March last year and is envisaged for completion in October this year.
One of the worker representatives, Reuben Mahlangu, said the rates workers at the project are currently rated on were not enough and subjected them to difficult conditions.
“Workers coming from faraway places are forced to sleep in slums in the area because the rates cannot afford them decent places to stay.
“We are saying the contractor must comply with the Labour Relations Act and pay people according to the rates they deserve. Until then, no work will be done here,” said Mahlangu.
Speaking on behalf of the main contractor, Ikotwe Construction, Charl Stassen, said the rates workers are currently being paid were agreed upon with the Department of Labour at the start of the project.
“We are arranging a meeting with other stakeholders to find an amicable solution and we plan to give the people a response soon,” Stassen said.
