The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) has succeeded in forcing the Gauteng government to ban labour brokers.
The Premier of the province, David Makhura announced at the Congress of South African Trade Unions, (COSATU) strike on Wednesday, that the Gauteng government would ban labour brokers by the end of the year.
What Mr. Makhura failed to mention was that his government has no choice but to ban labour brokers, because NUMSA has been instrumental in ensuring that the labour law strengthens the rights of all contract and temporary workers.
In July the Labour Appeals Court (LAC) confirmed that contract workers automatically become the full time employee of the main employer, after the three month period has lapsed, with all the benefits that come with being permanently employed.  It is a well-known fact that labour brokers are modern day slave traders who exploit temporary workers by making them work harder for less pay. Temporary workers are unable to save because they earn so little. They often have no pensions, savings or investments. And to make matters worse, the vast majority of them live in poverty.
NUMSA went to the LAC to seek clarity on the rights of contract workers, after the three month period as referred to in the Labour Relations Act kicks in. We were appealing because we had initially won a CCMA decision against Krost Shelving and Racking confirming the rights of temporary workers, but they appealed to the Labour Court, which overturned the ruling. We then approached the LAC and they confirmed the correctness of our position. The LAC found that labour brokers may not exploit workers on contract for indefinite periods of time.
The Confederation of Associations in the Private Employment Sector, CAPES, has no sense of humanity. Like typical slave owners, they view workers as commodities to be exploited. The slave traders, (CAPES), are hoping the constitutional court will reverse this just decision. As NUMSA we will defend this case and ensure that the rights of contract workers are not tampered with. We will do everything in our power to stop them from abusing our members. NUMSA is proving once again that we do not need to align ourselves with the corruption of the governing party in order to improve the lives of the working class.
Workers’ rights are human rights!
Aluta continua!
The struggle continues!
Issued by Phakamile Hlubi
NUMSA National Spokesperson (Acting)
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