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South Africa
Scores (out of 10)
Impacts
In consultation with the Fairwork team, the following platforms agreed to implement changes to their policies or practices:
Fair Pay:
1.1: getTOD has reduced the commission they claim for labour (25%) and materials (5%) on each work engagement, to 20% on labour only.
1.1: Besides an inflationary increase to base delivery fees this year, Mr D has introduced a variable fuel surcharge to compensate drivers for additional costs arising from fuel increases. Several increases in line with changes in the fuel price have been made since the surcharge was introduced at the end of 2021.
Fair Conditions:
2.1: As part of their commitment to upskilling their tradespeople, getTOD has trained more than 60 small companies across South Africa on how to install smart devices, and it continues to do so.
Fair Contracts:
3.1: SweepSouth has re-structured their contract, reorganised the content, and simplified the language to make terms and conditions clearer for workers.
Fair Management:
4.1: SweepSouth have changed their terms and conditions to include the process for workers to appeal low ratings, non-payment, payment issues, deactivations, and other penalties and disciplinary actions.
4.2: Mr D is making continuous progress in contracting more females into their workforce. Female driver representation has increased from 11.5% in 2021, to 13.9% in 2022.
Fair Representation:
5.1: getTod continues to reach out in attempts to identify associations willing to work with them to assist workers to organise, collectively express their wishes and be listened to.
5.1: SweepSouth made a public statement in 2021 confirming their willingness to engage in collective bargaining and published this in a blog. SweepSouth have now agreed to find a better way of conveying this commitment to platform workers.
Scores (out of 10)
Impacts
In consultation with the Fairwork team, the following platforms agreed to implement changes to their policies or practices:
Fair Conditions:
2.1: Sweepsouth commited to remove personal addresses or Sweepstars from customer invoices
Fair Contracts:
3.1: GetTOD converted their terms and conditions from UK to South African law.
3.1: NoSweat has created a non-technical version of their terms and conditions (T&Cs) to ensure that all workers have a thorough understanding of the contract they are committing to. This has served as a model for M4Jam to adopt a similar approach to their T&Cs.
Fair Management:
4.2: SweepSouth released a public commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).
Fair Representation:
5.1: SweepSouth released a public statement confirming their willingness to engage in collective bargaining
Scores (out of 10)
Impacts
In consultation with the Fairwork team, the following platforms agreed to implement changes to their policies or practices:
Fair Pay:
1.2: GetTOD agreed to pay all workers above the national living wage.
1.2: NoSweat to pay workers above a living wage.
Fair Contracts:
3.1: NoSweat added a simplifying ‘explainer’ to accompany the contract.
Fair Management:
4.1: GetTOD clarified disciplinary processes in contract.
4.1: NoSweat documented the grievance channel and process in ‘purchase order’ (contract).
4.2: Sweepsouth committed to develop policy on non-discrimination within the next 12 months.
Fair Representation:
5.2: GetTOD added a statement on union recgonition added to contract.
Scores (out of 10)
Impacts
In consultation with the Fairwork team, the following platforms agreed to implement changes to their policies or practices:
Fair Pay:
1.2: NoSweat instituted policy to pay all workers over the minimum wage after costs
Fair Conditions:
2.1: NoSweat changed its buyer terms and conditions so clients on the platform agree to protect workers’ health and safety
Fair Management:
4.1: NoSweat developed a portal and process for workers to lodge grievances
Fair Representation:
5.2: Bottles committed to support the development of a workers’ organisation that could undertake collective bargaining, if one were to exist
Related press coverage
OPINION | RIP gig economy? How platform workers can survive a string of economic shocks
News24, 15 October 2022
Platform workers, already more vulnerable to high inflation and high fuel costs, are also more vulnerable to job losses, and those still working are experiencing expenses exceeding their hourly pay.
Fairwork reports low pay, harsh conditions and no safety for app workers
The Citizen, 12 September 2022
The study finds that these workers continue to face insufficient wages, unfair working conditions and lack of benefits.
Platform Workers Are Not Adequately Protected During The Cost-of-living Crisis, A New Study
Africa.com, 09 September 2022
The fourth annual ratings of working conditions in the South African platform economy finds platform workers continue to face insufficient wages, unfair working conditions and a lack of benefits and protections afforded to employees.
SA ‘gig workers’ see fuel cost eat into earnings and are increasingly concerned about their safety
Business Insider, 08 September 2022
South Africa's 'gig workers' are under increasing strain. This is according to the fourth annual Fairwork report compiled by Oxford University and the University of Cape Town (UCT).
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