HAMLET Foundation workers took their dissatisfaction to the streets after failing to agree with the employer on wage increment.
The workers blockaded North Road in Regents Park on September 16 with bricks, tree branches, burning tyres and rubbish. Workers were demanding a 12 percent increase and fairness in the workplace.
According to one of the workers, Prince Mbongwa, the work they put in should be rewarded with a little percentage.
“The employer needs to come to terms with us. All we want is an increase, nothing else. We as workers told ourselves we won’t stop protesting until our concerns are attended,” said Mbongwa.
The protest was meant to take two days, but due to not coming to an agreement on certain details workers decided to prolong the protest to four days.
Hamlet’s main entrance was blocked, preventing motorists and people from entering the premises.
Meeting
On September 17, Hamlet’s management met with the workers in an attempt of coming up with a solution to solve the issue. The COURIER reached out to both parties in a bid to try and establish the outcomes, but Hamlet management didn’t respond.
According to Eric Moloi, the leader of the protest, the employer tabled four percent instead of 12 percent, but the workers weren’t satisfied with the offer.
“All we can do now is try and set up another meeting. The four percent offered won’t help workers, we can at least settle for six percent, if possible, but we will see,” said Moloi.
Hamlet Foundation
The foundation was established in 1954 and it has expanded and developed to include a school for 342 intellectually disabled children, a residential centre for 60 intellectually disabled adults and an assembling and packaging workshop for 150 intellectually disabled workers.
The children do the packing for MTN Walk The Talk with 702, Dis-chem and Future Packaging.
This assists adults in achieving their maximum potential, enabling them to lead as normal a life as possible. With the workers protesting it becomes hard for the disabled to continue with the order of the business as they rely on the workers’ assistance.
One of the parents of the disabled children who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals said the workers are sitting outside while the children depend on them with regards to assistance, as they are caregivers.
“My disabled son earns about R400 and when they come to work they always chase them away. With the little money they earn, will these four days of protesting be counted? Hamlet Foundation is a second home to our children, so I just feel these children shouldn’t be left stranded because of this debacle. These children watch television and see what happens when there’s an ongoing protest, now seeing their caregivers doing this they feel unwelcome,” said the parent.
COURIER tried reaching out to the Hamlet management, but no comment was granted.
• The foundation was established in 1954.
• This is the second protest in one year.
• Disabled children all get a stamp for their work.
• Any age group and disability is allowed at Hamlet.
WATCH:
