A local employee and breadwinner is highly upset with his employer, listing a number of complaints including unfair treatment and non-payment of salary, which he says his employer should answer for.
The employee, 28 year old Raheem Akoon, of Erasmia has come forward with allegations of unfair treatment and unpaid wages at a nearby farm located at Plot 17, Vlakplaats in Erasmia, next to Dockrat’s Farm. Raheem, who supports his widowed mother Zeenath Shaikh, claims he was employed without a formal contract and dismissed after demanding the full salary he was promised.
promised a monthly salary of R5k, but only
received R2k in lieu of his November salary.
Raheem, accompanied by his mother Zeenath, recently came to the Laudium Sun offices in Laudium to complain about the alleged abuse by his employer, alleging that he and other staff were not given contracts and that he believed that the company was not registered with the relevant authorities, especially with the department related to labour.
parda), told the Laudium Sun, “We want
accountability for the abused workers and for the unfair treatment my son was exposed to.”
Raheem said he began working as a manager on the farm, known as Jalalpors Farm, last year on November 2, under the employment of Salman Abdullah. According to Raheem he was promised a monthly salary of R5,000 for a six-day workweek, excluding Sundays.
However Raheem alleges that he was surprised that he only received R2,000 on December 3, in lieu of his November salary, despite incurring transportation costs of approximately R1,000, using an Uber to commute to work. Adding to the claims, Raheem alleged that another employee, a seven-months-pregnant woman, was subjected to harsh working conditions, including harvesting crops without fair support or accommodation, adding, that workers allegedly face further restrictions, with some not even allowed to leave the premises after hours. Raheem alleged further to the Laudium Sun, “When I received only R2000 for November instead of the R5000 promised to me, I together with my mother approached the management about four days later, on Dec 7, regarding the shortfall of my salary. However the manager and supervisor, who gave his name as Abdul Motani Gani, verbally abused me and my mother, but eventually promised to pay the remaining payment via eWallet the next day. I have been waiting since December for my salary but to this day I have not received it. I have since taken evidence, including their wage book, to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA) to support my case.
The Laudium Sun thereafter visited the Jalalpor Farm with Raheem to get a comment on the allegations made by Raheem and his mother on this matter. The owner Salman Abdullah was not there. However the Laudium Sun team was met by the supervisor, Abdul Motani Gani. When asked for a comment about the accusations, Abdul said, “The case is with the CCMA, and we are handling everything professionally, thus we have no further comment to make to you in this matter.” Zeenath added, “We want accountability for the abused workers and for the unfair treatment my son was exposed to. I hope that the employer will admit to the Laudium Sun the truth about how my son was treated.”
Efforts to reach Salman Abdullah directly for comment were unsuccessful.