Foreign truckers employed legally, based on merit - NEASA
Updated | By Mmangaliso Khumalo
The National Employers Association of South Africa has denied claims of foreign truck drivers stealing jobs from their local counterparts.
Angry truck drivers blocked sections of the N3 on two separate occasions last week.
They are angry at the number of foreign nationals employed in the logistics and trucking industry.
The blockade led to the arrest of four people and widespread concern over the damage caused to the country’s already battered economy.
NEASA CEO Gerhard Papenfus says the employment of foreign truck drivers is a natural process.
"The foreign drivers, those that are lawfully in the country, apply for jobs, they legally get jobs. The fact that they get these jobs is based on merit, it is an employer that decides the person sitting in front of him will is suitable for the job.
"The employer is satisfied that the person will look after his assets and will deliver the product in time. That is the criteria, so its the right of the employer to employee who ever they want."
Papenfus denies that foreign drivers are paid less.
"It is not true that they get paid less than the required wages. All these employers fall under the bargaining council for the road transport industry.
"They get inspected, their wages are quite substantial wages, and everybody gets paid those wages. It is prescribed and inspected and are also subjected to the same rules."
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