DURBAN - THERE is light at the end of the tunnel for 136 staff who have been employed as temporary workers in the provincial department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta).
This comes after the department agreed to negotiate for their absorption to become permanently employed.
The Public Servants Association (PSA) provincial manager, Mlungisi Ndlovu, told the Daily News on Wednesday that the employer had finally agreed to negotiate temporary staff absorption into the department.
The Daily News ran a story last week about the plight of the staff, who had complained that they were being exploited. Some have been on contract for 12 years.
“We welcome the move by the department,” said Ndlovu. “The union demands the conversion of contract workers to permanent positions. Our position remains unchanged.”
He said the department had violated the Labour Relations Act of 2014, as amended, which clearly stipulates that if a worker has completed three months without interruption in the workplace, he or she must be converted to permanent employment.
Ndlovu further said that workers had been denied benefits, such as contributions to a pension fund, medical aid and other employment benefits.
A Cogta employee, who wished to remain anonymous, has been on contract for nine years. He told the Daily News on Wednesday that he was happy to hear the department was considering employing them permanently.
Cogta provincial spokesperson Senzo Mzila said the issues relating to employees’ conditions were very sensitive and the department was handling it cautiously within the ambit of the law.
Daily News