The National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa Numsa in the Free State says late payment of salaries, non-payment of third-party contributions and denial of maternity leave remain huge challenges in the private security sector.
The Unions Free State and Northern Cape Education officer, Chris Soetsane says intervention from unions is limited as many security guards dont belong to formal unions because their employers prevent them from becoming members.
Its quite a big problem, especially around the area of Free State. Our members and the workers are not paid their salaries timeously. Their employers disregard all the laws that are there to regulate them in the sector. So were faced with quite a huge challenge, Soetsane adds.
Numsa spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola says some intervention measures have been applied but more needs to be done.
We have not seen it taking strong action against these companies for failing to pay over the money for medical insurance and the money for provident fund. As a union Numsa has launched a very public campaign since 2023 working with other unions in the sector. We have publicly shamed several security companies in a bid to expose them in this type of practice. We have found that through this naming and shaming campaign some of them have actually reached out to us and we have managed to get them to comply.
