UPDATE: Norwood Mall to give customer assistants alternate work
NORWOOD – We subcontract services to companies whose core business is service related.
Norwood Mall’s management said it would not be able to employ customer and trolley assistants to directly work for the mall but confirmed that their jobs are safe for now.
This after the assistants were issued a notice to terminate their services by Nogada Customer and Trolley Company on 1 March as reported in the North Eastern Tribune, week ending 23 February.
The notice was issued to both the mall and the assistants on 1 February.
Read: UPDATE: Norwood Mall still uncertain about jobs
The company claimed that the assistants refused to increase their standing fees, to take instructions, did not report incidents and further accused them of poor behaviour towards the patrons at the mall.
The assistants, however, said they do not mind working under the instructions of the mall’s management if the company terminated their services.
Leila Daya, a retail portfolio manager, said Norwood Mall would not be able to employ the assistants.
“Unfortunately not. We subcontract all services of this nature to companies whose core business is service related. In this industry, they are experts in their fields,” said Daya.
“We have held a meeting [with Nogada managers] to ensure that there will be alternate work offered to them. They will be issued letters stating that they must report to Nogada’s head office for alternate placing.”
Lynne Philip, a patron at the mall, posted on Tribune’s Facebook and said, “Quite honestly I think they will be better off working directly for the mall and not this company who do not treat them with respect anyway.”
Meanwhile, when asked if it is true that Nogada charges the assistants up to R24 a day to work on-site, Daya said, “They do as I understand. It is standard practice to cover training, fees and equipment. Nogada will be able to further explain this.”
Efforts to get a comment from Nogada proved unsuccessful and the company has since said it would not comment on the matter.
Here’s what you had to say on Twitter:
Hope you don’t let this rest NE Tribune a company letting people go because the “assistants” refuse to pay the Co. more. The rest of the complaints they have is just justification for their bullshit. Exploitation at its best.
— Penny Osher (@PennyOsher) February 20, 2018
How do we get hold of this Nogada Customer and Trolley Service Company?
— Penny Osher (@PennyOsher) February 20, 2018
How has your experience been with assistants at Norwood Mall? Tell us by tweeting on @NE_Tribune
