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Contract workers at an Astron Energy refinery that supplies Caltex petrol stations say they have been locked out by the company for demanding more than the country’s minimum wage and that they are struggling to make ends meet.
About 96 contract workers at the former Chevron refinery in Milnerton, Cape Town, spent most of Wednesday outside locked gates after refusing to sign a non-disclosure agreement about how much they earn.
Astron Energy’s media and communications advisor, Suzanne Pullinger, said the contract workers in question are employed by Tsebo, a contractor offering services to Astron Energy. But she said the company would investigate the incident.
"We are committed to fair and legal labour practices both for our own employees and those employed through contractors. We will investigate the circumstances around this incident," she said.
Astron, which is a Glencore Group subsidiary, did not respond to Fin24’s questions on how this disruption might affect supply to Caltex filling stations or whether the company has contingency plans to ensure that production at the refinery continues as planned. Astron’s Milnerton refinery produces petrol, diesel, jet fuel, liquid petroleum gas, bitumen gas and other speciality products.
Pule Ranyama, one of the workers locked out, said they were called into the refinery’s management office on Wednesday morning as they had asked management last month to review their wages from the current R22 per hour to R45. But when they got there, they were asked to sign non-disclosure agreements, stating that they would not raise the issue again or disclose to anyone else how much they earn.
Another worker, Amahle, said she would not be allowed even to share these details with her family. The contractors therefore refused to sign the agreements and they were allegedly told to leave.
The contract workers have been employed in the refinery for a month now. The contracts they signed stipulated that their wage would be R22 per hour.
"But we asked management to review it. We are asking for a salary adjustment like other contractors," said Ranyama, adding that they found out after starting the work at the refinery that the rate for other contractors was at least R45.
The R22 allegedly offered to them is, however, higher than the national minimum wage of R20 for workers in general. But Ranyama said they are struggling to live on that wage. The workers said they would be heading to the CCMA on Thursday morning and the EFF has invited them to their offices afterwards.
