Exploitation of employees

[Newbee]

I recently were employed by a company just to discover that I have to work saturdays as part of my weekly hours instead of over time. I am getting monthly salary and work around 60 hours normal time per week.
None of the employees are getting paid over time whatsoever.
Another issue I have is that my pay slip does not indicate the amount of hours that I have worked for the month, it is completely blank as everyone elses.
I regard myself still lucky, some employees have to work 7 days per week, 10 hours per day without days off or any over time.
What can be done about this??
Anyone with a bright candle light out there? Please help.

[AmithS]

Do you have a contract with the employer and what industry are you in?

[Newbee]

No contract whatsoever, it was a verbal agreement that they will employ me permanently, The work conditions chanced after 2 weeks of employment. The HR promised me a contract 2 weeks ago already but nothing came of it.
It is a manufacturing company (Furniture)

[Newbee]

They also have foreign nationals working for them, these guys live on the work premises, I highly doubt that they are legally employed as none of them receive any payslips, they pay cash in hand and have to work 7 days per week or their wages will be cut short, I know of one that got a wage cut and is earning less now.
Regardless of the industry, is there any channels one can follow to report this but yet then again what can the system do? The employees are too scared to do anything, too scared to loose their jobs, living arrangements.

[AmithS]

Reason I asked the industry is that some industries are governed by bargaining councils which spell out the working conditions. If not then the BCEA conditions apply.

I stand to be corrected. I am sure a labour expert here can verify and advise which conditions apply.

Does your pay vary based on the hours you work or is it fixed regardless of the hours worked?

[AmithS]

Have a look at this link - Furniture Bargaining Council. Maybe this will help.

http://www.furnbed.co.za/

[Newbee]

My pay is a fixed monthly salary but 1 minute late will cause it being cut

[Newbee]

Regardless if you work more hours than what you should, no over time will be paid to you, to get a day off during the week for private business I have to work in a Sunday to make up the hours for that day that I am taking off

[AmithS]

Hey Newbee, what was the outcome?