NUMSA demands that members of parliament must stop enabling the looting of workers medical and provident fund benefits by unscrupulous security companies!
26 September 2024
Members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) in the Western Cape region participated in joint march with other unions in the security sector. Unions like South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU), Abanqobi Workers Union (AWU), Kungwini Amalgamated Workers Union (KAWU) and also the South African National Security Allied Workers’ Forum (SANSAWF) protested against the looting of workers provident and medical insurance funds, by unscrupulous security companies. Our members marched to parliament and handed over a memorandum demanding that members of the Finance Portfolio Committee as well as the Portfolio Committee on Police in parliament must act to ensure compliance by these employers.
To our great disappointment the chairperson of the Finance Committee, Dr. Joseph Maswanganyi did not bother to pitch and neither did senior officials from the Police Committee. We had confirmed ahead of time that they would show up, but they failed to pitch to receive the demands. Their absence can be interpreted as them giving workers the middle finger. We condemn them in the strongest terms for ignoring the request to receive the memorandum.
Workers in the security sector risk their lives to guard parliament, and other government departments. These are among the lowest paid workers who, for decades have been grossly exploited by the system. The role of parliament is to enforce legislation that includes the protections of workers’ rights, and, the implementation of collective agreements which are legally binding documents. However, this parliament is currently failing to uphold its responsibilities. Workers are not receiving the benefits which form part of the Main Collective Agreement (MCA) which was signed in the National Bargaining Council Private Security Sector (NBCPSS).
In terms of the agreement employers are obligated to deduct money for medical insurance and for provident fund, and they must also contribute those amounts for all their employees in the security sector. However, our members are suffering because there are many employers who do not comply. And what is disappointing is that when these companies do not comply, government, and in particular, Treasury, does not play its role in forcing them to comply. There are companies which are known for ignoring the terms of the MCA and yet Treasury continues to do business with them, and continues to grant them contracts and pay them.
At the very least this is blatant dereliction of duty on the part of the state, and the very worst, they are collaborators in the looting because of their failure to force employers to comply. They are actively exposing workers to greedy, corrupt opportunists who are defrauding workers.
Furthermore, it is a disgrace, and an indictment against the state, that our members are forced to take time off, and lose a day’s wages in order to raise this issue through protest action, in order to compel them to do their job!
Nevertheless, we handed the memorandum of demands to the junior officials who received it.
We have given them 7 days to respond to our demands in writing. They have not seen the last of us, our campaign to name and shame security companies who defraud workers will continue. We will not stop putting pressure on government, the regulator as well as employers to pay workers what they owe them.
Aluta continua!
The struggle continues!
Issued by Thabo Mbebe, Acting NUMSA Regional Secretary Western Cape, 26 September 2024
