The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has voiced its concerns over systematic labour abuses at Tradecor Steel, highlighting exploitation of undocumented workers amid government inspections.
On Wednesday, following yet another raid underscoring ongoing labour law violations in the South African steel industry, Numsa expressed its support for recent raids conducted by the Department of Home Affairs at Tradecor Steel in Germiston.
This action follows the revelation that Tradecor has allegedly been exploiting undocumented workers and flouting both immigration and labour regulations.
Since July, the Department of Employment and Labour has revealed that it conducted over 809 inspections across the country, aiming to clamp down on companies failing to comply with workplace standards. The unveiling of alleged abuses at Tradecor aligns with the union’s long-standing concerns regarding the treatment of workers in the sector.
Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, in a statement issued on Wednesday, reiterated that the union was not surprised by the allegations against Tradecor.
She highlighted that attempts made by Numsa to engage with the company's management earlier this year were met with resistance. “The management refused to recognise Numsa as a bargaining agent, which is why we lodged a dispute at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA) for ‘refusal to bargain’,” she explained.
Tradecor’s management allegedly neglected to address the union’s concerns, leading members to prepare for a strike — a route they have not pursued due to the unresolved dispute with the CCMA. “We are not surprised that Tradecor is accused of failing to comply because they are abusing undocumented foreign nationals,” Hlubi-Majola said.
Drawing attention to the plight of undocumented workers, Hlubi-Majola stated that these individuals are especially vulnerable to exploitation due to their legal status.
“The bosses know that they are vulnerable, and they exploit them by paying very low salaries, whilst exposing them to shocking working conditions,” she noted.
She said such vulnerability renders these workers less likely to report violations, which emboldens employers to engage in gross misconduct ranging from unfair wage practices to unsafe working conditions.
According to the Minister of Employment and Labour, recent blitz inspections have yielded promising results, with the department enforcing fines exceeding R10 million and arresting 81 undocumented workers.
Hlubi-Majola also emphasised the broader implications of exploitation within South Africa’s labour market, condemning a system that prefers high unemployment.
“When workers turn their anger towards other workers, because they are immigrants, it benefits the bosses. They are distracting the working class by making them hate foreign nationals, as if they are to blame for this situation, when the reality is that it is the bosses who are to blame,” she said.
The Star