Workers seek help from CCMA
The workers said they started working on Marine Drive in 2023, and their contract was expected to end in 2026.
Disgruntled road workers who were employed for the rehabilitation of Marine Drive marched to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) Port Shepstone offices recently to seek help.
According to one of the workers, Musawenkosi Mbutho, their employment contracts were unfairly terminated.
Mbutho said what was also shocking was that after a year of contributing towards the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), they found out that the Department of Labour (DoT) had no records of them.
“We were working under a company called Thompson Khusela PTY. I worked as a flagman. When we confirmed with the DoT whether our employer was contributing towards our UIF, we were informed that we had only paid for three months. It confused us because we had been paying for over a year,” said Mbutho.
He added that they started working in 2023 and signed a contract stating that they would work until the project is complete in 2026.
“This is why we decided to reach out to the CCMA because they have a legal team; maybe they could use their lawyers to help us fight this,” he said.
Mbutho added that this has been an inconvenience to them, as they have debit orders and families to feed.
“We are now in arrears, and we need these jobs. We hope that we can get some assistance,” he said.
Another worker, Londiwe Ndovela, said their biggest concern was the news of their UIF. “This is unfair, which is why we decided to go to the CCMA,” she said.
Thompson Khusela’s legal representative, Lee and McAdam Attorneys, responded to the allegations.
“Our client is not aware which employees the allegations refer to. It is important to note that the project site was concluded and terminated on finalisation of the contract, which resulted in the cessation of fixed- term employment linked to that site.”
They added that UIF contributions were deducted in accordance with statutory requirements and paid over to the UIF.
“Our client is not in a position to comment on why the DoT may not have certain records, as all employer contributions were made in compliance with the law. Employees were engaged on fixed-term contracts directly linked to the specific project site. Once the site reached completion, the contracts naturally expired. Our client remains committed to fair labour practices and compliance with all applicable laws and regulations,” they said.
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