WATCH: Fresh produce wholesaler’s employees halt work
Employees at Natural Value Foods halted operations to voice their grievances including allegations that they are expected to work in freezing conditions with no PPE.
Workers at Natural Value Foods in Muldersdrift came out in their numbers as they downed tools and refused to work until their demands were met.
On 10 May, the workers stood outside the premises to show their refusal to work, but they did not enter. Mary Skhosana said they have been complaining to the company for quite some time now. “We want PPEs, we are working inside the fridges but we are not provided with the proper clothes like freezer jackets. Again, we are complaining about the hours and the money that we get paid. We get paid R110 for a day, and if you want to earn more than R110 you have to work from 7am to 7pm.” She revealed that negotiations between the workers and the company have been ongoing for three years, but there has been very little to no resolution.
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Among their grievances, the employees have requested that long-term workers be given permanent positions, that undocumented foreigners be let go, and that Natural Value Foods provide adequate PPEs.
Sector 1 chairperson, Charles Mbewe said the majority of the employees are foreigners, outnumbering South Africans. “We are intervening as community leaders because we don’t want to see any xenophobic violence arise. We have suggested that the company employs more South Africans compared to foreign nationals. At least it could be a 70/ 30 ratio,” he suggested. Mbewe said during negotiations the company had seemingly agreed but there had been no change. He said during their last meeting with the company in March, the company agreed to provide PPEs for the workers. “On 6 May, the manager denied and said he was not going to provide any PPE. The response that I got from the community and workers after I delivered the news, was that they would be closing the gate on Monday, and asked that I come and help out to ensure there is no violence,” Mbewe said.
The demonstration was not violent, and Muldersdrift Police members were present. Lieutenant Colonel Mankhontsho Setlhare said strikes often have the potential to turn violent and it was the responsibility of the police to ensure the safety of the company and the people who are striking. He said, “The issue here is a labour matter, and we have discovered that there is no union here to represent the employees, so community leaders decided to handle this labour dispute on behalf of the employees. I have had engagements with the community leaders to say that we should engage with the Labour Department as well as Home Affairs because the allegations are that people are hired on contract basis and not in permanent positions; some of the people here are foreigners who are mostly illegal.”
He revealed that there had been allegations that foreigners were advised to stay away from work when Home Affairs officials do site visits at the Natural Value Foods premises. “Our role here is to ensure that property is not damaged and that there is no intimidation, and that the protests proceed peacefully with no injuries,” Setlhare added.
None of the management representatives from Natural Value Foods were present at the demonstration, and efforts to get in contact with them have gone unanswered.
