Thousands of security companies, including some contracted to the government, are under fire for failing to provide their workers with medical benefits despite deducting millions from their salaries as part of a bargaining council agreement.Financial Sector Conduct Authority.more than 30,000 security guards and about R50-million in deductions so far,
The benefits include chronic disease management and medication, doctor consultations, hospital and casualty benefits, including an HIV and TB management programme.However, according to unions in the sector and security guards who spoke on condition of anonymity, scores of companies that are part of the agreement have not fulfilled their part of the deal and are in violation of the law.
A Limpopo-based security guard who has worked in the sector since 2008 and has worked for four companies, said none of his former employers complied with the agreement and a number of other regulations. He said workers were forced to report for duty even when sick because they cannot afford doctors’ tariffs.
He said since March 2021 companies have been deducting money from workers’ salaries but failing to forward proceeds to Affinity Health, which, according to the collective agreement, is the sole administrator of the scheme. In the letter, the unions’ lawyers accused Imvula of acting unlawfully and being in violation of the collective agreement.