Car washers at some shopping malls pay a fee to work

[schumi]

Immigrants working for car wash companies in the parking areas at the V&A Waterfront and Sea Point in Cape Town say they are battling to make ends meet as many of them are required to pay a fee to work. Many of the workers we spoke to are Zimbabwean and Malawian.

However, the company we spoke to says that the fee is reasonable, as it covers rent to the shopping malls, cleaning products and laundry.

GroundUp visited sites of three companies and spoke to workers. We sent questions to all three companies but only one, StopWash, responded.

At StopWash, which has sites at the Waterfront and Sea Point, car washers pay for their spots. Mondays to Wednesdays they pay R120 for a spot to work, and R140 on Thursdays. The charge increases over weekends and they pay R160 on Fridays, R200 on Saturdays, and R160 on Sundays. The company provides the cleaning products.

The car washers charge R90 for cars and R95 for larger vehicles. But the company deducts R25 from each car wash.

“We are about 50 car washers. When we wash we ensure the car is spotless so that there are no complaints and we get tips. Some clients tip between R10 and R50. When it’s busy, we clean about ten cars a day.”

CEO and founder of StopWash, Mark Kruger, told GroundUp he ran over 20 sites, four in Cape Town, and StopWash was “South Africa’s largest car wash”. Kruger said the company had created 4,000 jobs. “I have a backlog of 70 women looking for work after losing work during Covid.” StopWash has an office at the Waterfront.

More at: https://groundup.org.za/article/car-washers-at-some-shopping-malls-pay-a-fee-to-work/

 

[RedViking]

Only way to control them. The other option is to stay away. Parking lots don't need car guards or washers

 

[epah]

I dont see what is wrong here.

 

[ShaunSA]

Immigrants?

Can we see some papers first plz. Thanks

 

[now05ster]

I dont see what is wrong here.

It's Groundup...

 

[airborne]

If they are doing 10 car washes per day as they claim the pay after costs still seems very decent for what is menial/unskilled labour, R500/pd+.
R10k per month and not paying any taxes, gtfo

 

[Cosmik Debris]

More at: https://groundup.org.za/article/car-washers-at-some-shopping-malls-pay-a-fee-to-work/

I was lambasted on here when I said that car guards had to pay a middleman to work their turf and the middleman paid management at the centres. If the centres want security, they should pay for it and have PSIRA registered security personnel earning at least minimum wage.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

I dont see what is wrong here.

You wouldn't consider it wrong if your boss asked for a percentage of your pay for you to continue being employed? South Africa has regressed a long way if people are finding corruption and extortion a norm.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

If they are doing 10 cash washes per day as they claim the pay after costs still seems very decent for what is menial/unskilled labour, R500/pd+.
R10k per month and not paying any taxes, gtfo

But you consider it OK when the owner is also not paying any taxes and using extortion?

 

[Cosmik Debris]

@TheChamp Any comments on SA's wonderful labour laws?

 

[TheChamp]

I was lambasted on here when I said that car guards had to pay a middleman to work their turf and the middleman paid management at the centres. If the centres want security, they should pay for it and have PSIRA registered security personnel earning at least minimum wage.

Who lambasted you? Because I am certain that wasn't a revelation, too many articles have been written about the car guard thing.

 

[TheChamp]

@TheChamp Any comments on SA's wonderful labour laws?

What I said, the public should put even more pressure to make sure the laws are followed and enforced.

 

[R13...]

@Cosmik Debris = @epah

 

[Oldfut]

What I said, the public should put even more pressure to make sure the laws are followed and enforced.

I'm not so sure. Enforcing minimum wages can increase unemployment and there is a split reality. Those who don't care about the law employ at R10/hour, those who do cut labour and mechanise (and employ those that don't care as subcontractors; BEE regulation enforced). At least in what I see right now.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

What I said, the public should put even more pressure to make sure the laws are followed and enforced.

So, why are the laws strictly enforced on farmers with lots of Department of Labour vehicles trundling up and down farming areas while there are none in city areas where there is a greater population?

I have yet to see a Department of Labour vehicle inspecting shopping centres where there are car guards and car washes. You don't find those at all in rural areas.

Or is it because the rural vote mainly goes to the ANC and the ANC is using government resources to ensure their voters are looked after and couldn't be bothered about the foreigners working shopping centres because they can't vote?

 

[airborne]

But you consider it OK when the owner is also not paying any taxes and using extortion?

Where did I say anything was ok, I just mentioned the daily earn of the complainants after costs was very decent relative to market rates for similar types of work??

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Where did I say anything was ok, I just mentioned the daily earn of the complainants after costs was very decent relative to market rates for similar types of work??

Exactly. And they're not being taxed. Neither is the middle man and neither the shopping centre itself. The taxpayer is carrying this whole lot.

 

[surface]

eh, immigrants? Just jail them ek se.

 

[MilitantNightElf]

But you consider it OK when the owner is also not paying any taxes and using extortion?

You need to learn what the word extortion means. The shrill tone of your emotional appeals can seriously gtfo.

 

[MilitantNightElf]

What I said, the public should put even more pressure to make sure the laws are followed and enforced.

Law enforcement is not the public job. The ANC made these laws they should enforce them. Maybe if the head of law enforcement in this country father was not a garden boi then the quality of law enforcement would be better.