Trade Union Calls Lindiwe Sisulu and Cuban Engineers Out for Alleged Employment
- Solidarity, a trade union, has come out with a number of allegations concerning the 20 Cuban engineers who were brought to South Africa recently
- Solidarity stated that the engineers have contracts and are earning way more than South African engineers do, despite Minister Lindiwe Sisulu stating they were not technically employed
- Solidarity also alleged that the Cuban engineers do not have the correct qualifications for registration and licensing within South Africa
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Trade union Solidarity recently revealed that it would be laying a complaint against Lindiwe Sisulu, Water and Sanitation Minister. This comes after she brought over 20 Cuban engineers to South Africa, who are allegedly only receiving 'stipends'.
On Tuesday, 1 June, Solidarity stated that the Cuban engineers have employment contracts and are receiving up to R300 000 more per year than SA engineers. Solidarity revealed that a portion of the remuneration for the engineers includes furnished accommodation, telephone and food costs as well as flights for trips home to Cuba.
The trade union said that the benefits mentioned above are despite Sisulu's public statement that the engineers are not employees and would therefore not be receiving salaries.
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Not in 'solidarity' with Cuban engineers
According to TimesLIVE, CEO of Solidarity Dr Dirk Hermann stated that there the Cuban engineers took jobs away from South African engineers and there was no doubt about it. Hermann also made mention of the salary differences, adding that SA taxpayers would have to fork out more.
Before the weekend, Solidarity stated that it had reached an agreement with the department. This agreement was made for the trade union to withdraw its court case over the Cuban engineers' employment in SA from the urgent roll.
Cuban engineers' requirements
A report by EWN stated that the trade union revealed that the engineers from Cuba allegedly do not meet requirements for South African registration or licensing. The report also revealed that the taxpayer will have to pay around R75 million and not the originally stated R65 million.
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Not for employment
Previously, Briefly News reported that there was outrage from South Africans when Cuban engineers were brought into the country but for work, but Minister Lindiwe Sisulu says that they are here for mentorship.
Citizens felt that it was unfair for foreign nationals to be brought when there are a number of unemployed graduates looking for work. Sisulu maintains that the Cubans were not brought here for employment.
Why are they here?
According to Sisulu, the Cubans were brought in to help with South Africa's ailing water infrastructure. They are also present to help municipal workers with their skills.
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Source: Briefly News
