SABC News reports that workers at Tritapax Construction Company in Lichtenburg in the North West have downed tools since last week. They accuse the company they are sub-contracting to, of interfering with their labour-related affairs. The employees say the main contractor, Motheo Construction Group, is making unfair demands of contract terminations which will affect their employees. They also accuse the Group Company of subjecting their employees to unfair labour practices such as late payments. Tritapax Construction is sub-contracted on the R46-million road construction linking Lichtenburg and Gelukspan in the province. The aggrieved workers recently protested to make their grievances heard.

Workers’ representative, Moabinyana Lepholletse, elaborates, “Our problem is that salaries can be delayed. They do not pay us on time. There are some people who need to get an allowance and Motheo is not giving those workers an allowance. They expect our manager to pay those allowances. Now they say they want to lay off some of our colleagues who are sub-contracting. That is why we are outraged. We want to know why they want to retrench other workers in our company.” Meanwhile, the Provincial Public Works Department says for the current financial year, over R1-billion has been allocated for the maintenance and rehabilitation of roads in the province.

by Zebilon Maine