Soil of Africa marches to Home Affairs over 'exploitation' of contract workers

Civic organisation Soil of Africa marched to the Home Affairs head office in Pretoria, accusing the department of exploiting its workers.
 
The organisation said it was representing more than 1,500 employees who were hired three years ago as contractors under the digitisation project. 
 
They are disgruntled over three-month contract renewals instead of being absorbed into the department permanently. 

Nwabisa Sigaba said the workers had complained that they had no medical aid, provident fund or job security while being managed by labour brokers. 

Sigaba said the Labour Relations Act states that fixed-term contractors who had been working for more than three months should be deemed permanent under certain conditions. 

“We want the department to abide by the law and legislatures. The workers' grievances have not been answered; they have lodged grievances internally. They are also being bullied, intimidated and they are subjected to harsh working conditions.”

The Department of Home Affairs is yet to respond to the workers’ demands.