By Nasiphi Mabusela – Icamagu News Reporter
Employees at Seraphim New Energy, a foreign-owned company operating in East London’s Industrial Development Zone (IDZ), have come forward with serious allegations of labour rights violations, including non-payment of wages, forced overtime, and expired employment contracts.
According to one of the employees of the company, workers have not received their wages for the past two months, despite fulfilling their work obligations. This failure to pay employees is causing significant financial hardship for many who depend on their salaries for daily living expenses.
“Despite repeated attempts to inquire about the payment, the company has failed to release any salaries. This is a clear breach of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act,” said another employee, who asked to remain anonymous due to fears of retaliation.
The non-payment of wages violates South African employment laws, which stipulate that employers must pay their employees promptly for work completed.
In addition to wage issues, workers are reportedly being forced to work overtime beyond their regular hours without proper compensation or consent. Employees who refuse to comply with these demands face threats of written warnings or disciplinary action.
“This is not only exploitative but also illegal under South African labour laws,” said the employee. “We are being punished for not agreeing to work overtime without fair compensation.”
South African labour law stipulates that overtime must be compensated accordingly and that employees cannot face punishment for refusing overtime beyond agreed-upon hours.
Employees also report that they are working without valid contracts, as their previous agreements expired in November last year. No new contracts have been offered or renewed since then, leaving workers in a vulnerable position with no legal protections for their terms of employment.
“This is a clear violation of South African labour laws, which require that employers provide written contracts to their employees,” said the employee.
Workers at Seraphim New Energy are calling for immediate intervention from the Department of Employment and Labour to address these violations. They are urging the department to investigate the issues of non-payment, forced overtime, and expired contracts.
“We are facing emotional and financial stress because of these circumstances, and we urgently need help,” said the employee. “It is crucial that this matter is resolved so that we can work in fair conditions.”
Icamagu News has reached out to both Seraphim New Energy and the Department of Labour for comment but has not received a response at the time of publication.
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