[Opinion] Xenephobia

[adrianh]

My Zimbabwean staff have been told on numerous occasions to move out because they are going to be forcefully removed after the world cup.

I hereby vow that if anything happens to my Zimbabwean staff that I will NOT hire South Africans to replace them. If the South Africans think that they can intimidate good hard working people and thereby forcefully get jobs for themselves, they are making a moerse mistake.

It is time that South Africans learn that they should work for their money like everybody else. I work 16 hours a day, mostly for peanuts to keep the business going and to make sure that the staff get paid.

[tec0]

Ah yes, this is not the first time that I was told that Zimbabwean staff is worth gold. However if your staff is "legal" then you can relocate them “if you have the means to do so”. I know of a famer that did just that. His employees were legal and he gave them proper secure shelter.

However, the growing problem is the fact that Zimbabweans are also used as a cheap form of labour. Now I am not saying you are, but the fact is, it is happening across South Africa. Then there is also the alarming crime factor to consider... a lot of “attacks” on South African people are largely blamed on illegal’s... Again I am not saying that all people that cross our borders are evil. The truth is, it takes really very little to create unrest.

[sgafc]

People will always look for greener pastures..and if you think we the only ones with a "problem", look at the US(Mexicans), or the Eastern Europeans"invading" England.

It is the refusal of the authorities to deal with these issues constructively that is the problem, NOT the illegal immigrants!

Jobs can never be taken away... they have to be created..that the South AFricans have to realise

[Butch Hannan]

You have my sympathy and I admire your stand.

This is a situation that has been created by the powers that be. The trade unions have unfortunately created an ethos of more and more money for less and less work. You will not get the same production out of the locals.

Good Luck to you!!!!

[twinscythe12332]

I agree with you adrianh. It's just like how Muslims have been labeled as terrorists and are treated with suspicion and hatred, all because a few idiots decided to blow stuff up... often enough it is the minority that ends up making a name for the majority.

[Dave S]

You have my sympathy and I admire your stand.

This is a situation that has been created by the powers that be. The trade unions have unfortunately created an ethos of more and more money for less and less work. You will not get the same production out of the locals.

Good Luck to you!!!!

No Kidding!! We currently have a case where an employee, a member of SACAWU has outright refused to do anything more than his Job Statement identifies as his tasks. This same employee is asking for more money and a promotion! Here's where we have a problem.

How are we to know that he is capable of doing a more advanced task? If it's never been on his job statement, he would never do the additional tasks and therefore would not be legible for a promotion.

If his attitude has always been to do only what is stated in his JS, then obviously, he is on a fixed salary that relates to his JS, so he isn't eligible for an increase either?

Trying to get this fellow to understand that he must show his initiative in order to advance is like trying to tell a brick wall to grow taller.

There are many staff members that I, personally, have advanced in leaps and bounds over the years, because they have "gone the extra mile" in proving their worth to the company.

The motto of all unions seems to be "More money - less work". It's getting so bad that nowadays you have to include bathroom breaks in a job statement...

[tec0]

No Kidding!! We currently have a case where an employee, a member of SACAWU has outright refused to do anything more than his Job Statement identifies as his tasks. This same employee is asking for more money and a promotion! Here's where we have a problem.

How are we to know that he is capable of doing a more advanced task? If it's never been on his job statement, he would never do the additional tasks and therefore would not be legible for a promotion.

If his attitude has always been to do only what is stated in his JS, then obviously, he is on a fixed salary that relates to his JS, so he isn't eligible for an increase either?

Trying to get this fellow to understand that he must show his initiative in order to advance is like trying to tell a brick wall to grow taller.

There are many staff members that I, personally, have advanced in leaps and bounds over the years, because they have "gone the extra mile" in proving their worth to the company.

The motto of all unions seems to be "More money - less work". It's getting so bad that nowadays you have to include bathroom breaks in a job statement...

This is an interesting scenario. What you may want to consider is to bring in training modules. To be considered “eligible” for training the employee must agree with the new terms and conditions stated on a new contract that he must sign and agree too. If he/ she wish not to partake then let them state there reasons and allow them to sign by it.

When promotion time comes then those that did the training will be considered first. Secondly, a lot of companies “big companies” now use a 3 month to 5 month contract base. Thus if employee is troublesome then you just don’t renew the contract.

Talk to your legal advisor about this system.

In the end it is about protecting your business from abusive employees.

[Dave S]

Problem Employees

You make a good argument Tec0. We are, in fact, drawing a new job statement and contract for this individual, and he will now be on a 6-month contract, with a negligible increase. His new JS now itemises almost every task he must perform and includes the clause "and other reasonable tasks as may be required from time to time", he will also be assessed on a monthly basis. He must now either come to the party or ship out.

It's not quite as easy as that but I think you get the idea.

[Butch Hannan]

I would love to know what this individuals reaction is. Hopefully you are also doing it to some other members of your work force otherwise he is going to pull the "victimisation angle on you.
Best of luck

[adrianh]

You can't keep renewing short term contracts - they are then considered to be permanent employees. This is also why the unions are up in arms about labour broking.

[tec0]

You are correct but you can sign someone on as being a semi permanent employee. Casino’s and the Iron and Steel industry love this contract because they can let you go for whatever reason. Secondly you can have people on a permanent short term base contracts. Sub contractors are doing this as we speak, because it is cheaper for them to be able to let you go then what it is to go and sit at the CCMA every-time they need to get rid of someone. I can think of two massif companies that is doing this at the moment!

But if it is illegal please point it out!!! You will help so many people

But I have to agree with you it is not right.

Labour brokers are like a hidden tax on any contractor because they take a massif chunk out of your earnings every month! And your money is always late. Companies like to use labour brokers because they can get rid of anyone they don’t like for any reason! Basically labour brokers strip an employee of his/her rights and that is why the unions are out to boil labour brokers.

[Dave S]

You can't keep renewing short term contracts - they are then considered to be permanent employees. This is also why the unions are up in arms about labour broking.

We have discussed this with the employee, and, of course, his Union rep. The contract is a once-off and as it was explained is to give both parties the opportunity to assess A) If the employee can adequately perform the tasks as per the new position. B) If the salary suits the workload/responsibility. C) The employee is comfortable with the arrangement. D) Buys the time to create/institute proper training modules.

Point D is very important as in the industry there are no training modules available, for instance, we have no SETA or Education institution where we can sign an employee to train in his field as it is unique to only the Sports Turfing industry, even Government doesn't recognise the industry. This, in itself, makes it a very difficult task, and when you have an employee with an attitude problem, where he wants to be trained before he will even try, makes it even more difficult, which if analysed is actually quite right, why should he be expected to perform tasks for which he was not trained? Unfortunately, all those that have done the same tasks before him have had to learn via hands-on experience, myself included.

So, yes, it is not a pefect solution (or world) and we would much rather try to find a permanent solution, but a bad attitude is not going to help at all. Unions are not prepared to listen or try to understand the problem, all they want is that the employee must be given more money and when he can't perform the tasks they will just claim he wasn't trained, or was victimised, etc.

[tec0]

Ask your legal advisor about “in house training” this is done if the industry is not officially recognised. Design a training module and certification and note that it is for that type of work only. This will allow you the ability to “train” your workers and create the opportunity for better payment.

I know his system is possible; a lot of large companies do this, especially when it comes to “production lines”. They have their own systems emplace. See these “production lines” are completely unique to that company and the training modules are useless else ware.

Your training modules must always include health and safety, equipment training and just basic CPR. The safety and CPR training will allow for “external training at Suitable facilities. Equipment training may also have existing training facilities. The job training itself is unique to your industry, and this will allow you to create and maintain your own training modules within the company. But again you will need legal advice because it needs to be done right first time around.

[adrianh]

We helped the Zim staff to move from the township to a flat nearby. In effect the Zim staff have moved up in life due to the local threats - Suck on that lazy locals!

[Superscenic]

We employed Zim labour on a Pre-world cup thing (I wont say what exactly), but the parody of an all Zim crew wearing SA flag T shirts on a big parade for a country whose ruling tribe sets them on fire...?!

What was so refreshing was the gratitude from guys glad to get a job. Gratitude? Remember being shown gratitude? Remember when beggars thanked you for small change? vaguely? Well It was a new experience for me.

"Xenophobia: an unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange."

I Hate the use of this EUPHEMISM to describe Genocide/atrocity and the most vile and barbaric behavior.