Labour brokers - a third way

Johannesburg - Trade union Solidarity on Friday looked for middle ground in tackling the problem of labour broking in South Africa.

It follows a call from union confederation Cosatu and the ANC to ban labour brokers while other political parties, including the DA and Cope, requested better regulations.

Solidarity suggested the banning of certain practices by labour brokers, calling for several new regulations.

Among other things, Solidarity proposes the amendment of labour legislation to ban exploitation by labour brokers. "We also ask for a better definition of temporary work relationships as well as a larger role for bargaining councils. We feel that all employees who are placed by labour brokers must become part of a bargaining council. To this end, a new bargaining council can be created or the role of existing bargaining councils can be expanded," said Johan Kruger, head of the Solidarity Research Institute.

Kruger said that the trade union had submitted a proposal regarding such a balanced approach to the parliamentary portfolio committee.

Solidarity also called for workers who have been employed for six months, and who are placed by labour brokers, to be given four weeks' notice when they lose their jobs.

"Employers that make use of labour brokers must also pay severance packages when they suspend their contract with a labour broker. In addition, Solidarity is asking that a minimum wage for employees who work through labour brokers be investigated. The Department of Labour will also have to play a bigger role to ensure that labour brokers do in fact operate in accordance with the laws and regulations," the union said.

Solidarity proposed that the Labour Relations Act be amended to prohibit employers from retrenching employees only to reemploy them through a labour broker.

"Employers' attempts to distance themselves from their responsibility towards their employees are unacceptable. However, we have made it clear that the total banning of labour broking in South Africa is not a feasible or responsible option given the present circumstances.

"It is our considered view that the regulation of the labour brokering industry in South Africa - in conjunction with the banning of practices which lead to exploitation - by means of legislation is a far more responsible and realistic way of dealing with the question at hand," Kruger concluded.

- I-Net Bridge