Publications
- The National Union of Metalworkers of SA demanded that Eskom in-source 300 workers who lost their jobs after it did not renew a contract with Kusile JV.
- The union picketed at Megawatt Park on Thursday calling for the entity to take action to save the jobs of the affected cleaners and gardeners.
- Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha said a new independent contractor was appointed that employed some of the affected workers.
- For more financial news, go to the News24 Business front page.
The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has demanded that Eskom reinstate about 300 workers whom the union says lost their jobs unfairly after the power utility did not renew a contract with service provider Kusile JV.
The union's JC Bez region members held a picket at Megawatt Park on Thursday and handed over a memorandum demanding that the matter be rectified. The affected employees include cleaners and gardeners.
READ | Unions set to sign 7% Eskom wage offer
In a statement, Numsa said the affected workers would have been transferred to the new service provider and absorbed into the business in terms of section 197 of the Labour Relations Act, but this did not happen.
"Numsa is of the view that they have been unfairly dismissed. Some of these workers have been working at Eskom for nearly 20 years and in all that time, Eskom has not insourced them; they have simply been passed from one business to another," the statement said.
The union demanded an unconditional apology to the affected workers, a commitment to in-source all sub-contractor workers, as well as fair and equitable wages for the affected workers.
Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha told News24 that a new independent contractor was appointed at the expiry of the service contract that employed some of the affected workers.
READ | Eskom employees get another 1.5% wage increase
"Each service contract has a start and an end date, as does each job on such a contract. As a condition of the service contract, each new contractor is required to first offer job opportunities on the same conditions to the employees of the previous contractor, which was the case here.
"Those employees who complied with the requirements for interviews and screening by the new employer were indeed appointed. Those who declined forfeited any employment opportunity with the new contractor," said Mantshantsha.
