The Massmart-owned retailer, Makro, in Mbombela came to a standstill today, June 2. Cosatu, ANC, the South African Communist Party and the South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers’ Union protested for an increase in staff wages.

The unions in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality formed an alliance (Ehlanzeni Alliance) to hand over a memorandum with all their demands to Makro’s management.

The Cosatu Ehlanzeni Region co-ordinator, Gift Maseko, said the alliance was vital to support the employees who deserve better working conditions.

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Maseko outlined some of the demands as tabled in the memorandum.

“We demand a wage increment of R630 or 7.5%, a basic minimum wage to increase to R6 900, a uniform allowance of at least R93 monthly and a sales commission of 15% per unit for the staff,” he said.

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Makro’s management was given seven days to respond.

A Makro store manager, Andries Lubbe, accepted the memorandum.