Numsa on Tuesday handed over a memorandum of demands to the United Kingdom’s embassy in Pretoria to highlight what it calls the alleged abuse and exploitation of workers at a steel company in Vanderbijlpark near Boipatong in Gauteng. Numsa spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, tells OFM News that they are demanding that the UK ambassador engages with the management of the union on their demands over the next seven days.

These are, however, the allegations the company recently denied in a media statement, saying despite the fact that Numsa has not followed the provisions of the Recognition Agreement before bringing this demand to the company, the company has tried to engage with Numsa on several occasions.

She says in their memorandum they demand that all contract workers become fully insourced by ArcelorMittal and that they earn the same salary and benefits as other permanent workers. Hlubi-Majola says ArcelorMittal victimises workers and shop stewards for raising their voice about the daily abuses taking place at the company.

At least 2000 permanent employees and contract workers are on strike at the company.

OFM News