ZTE HSPA+ network workers detained

SteveO said:
I'm a BSC and I set up towers.....
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With the traning that SA technicians get I'm not surprised that one needs a B Sc. But I still think that it's a job for a trained and experienced technician.

Of course, if they are paying good money ... Where do I apply ?
 
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this is bull*****... why don't home affairs go to bellville station and 'detain' all those illegal immigrants there, selling counterfeit goods....
 
@ editor ..... why such sensationalism about this event. attempt to highlight home affairs incompetence or damage cell c image?
ether way it came out as very irresponsible post...
 
rpm said:
Cell C clarified the ZTE employee issue today, explaining that they have nothing to do with the Chinese employees who were detained for a short period and that the media reports were inaccurate and poorly researched.

“The workers are not employed by Cell C in any way, shape and form,” said Cell C.

“The information stems from an article in Business Times that was poorly researched and tendentiously written. As an example, ZTE provided the journalist yesterday with the facts that it had only been 4 workers (3 in Durban and 1 in Cape Town) and not 16 and that all have left police detention after producing their passport, which they did not carry on them while having dinner. The journalist refused to make adjustments,” said Cell C.

Cell C added that ZTE is dealing with the matter and cooperating fully with the authorities.
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As Journo's know only too well, the truth doesn't sell as well as a good story. If Cell C feels damaged, they should demand a retraction and right of reply with equivalent prominence of the original report.

As to Home Affairs being alerted by someone - well it's not beyond the realm of possibility it was Business Day, trying to make it into a story. Who knows what BD's vested interest is, beyond journalism. But perhaps I've gone a step too far.
 
FYI - the Dept of labour has been visiting many of the Telecoms companies using foreign workers - and have not found anything un toward - this is clearly a case of being caught - they use foreigners who do not comply with S.A. safety standards - I have seen it myself - climbing towers without harnesses etc.

This is just a cost cutting excercise the don't want to pay South Africans a fair wage or rate. There are at least 100 South Africans (who are standing) who can do this job - and they are trained for exactly this work - but they require fair payment

Don't blame VC or MTN as both these companies have deals going with said company - why would they compromise themselves?? (and no I don't work for either of them)
Have a good day
 
Kicker said:
FYI - the Dept of labour has been visiting many of the Telecoms companies using foreign workers - and have not found anything un toward - this is clearly a case of being caught - they use foreigners who do not comply with S.A. safety standards - I have seen it myself - climbing towers without harnesses etc.

This is just a cost cutting excercise the don't want to pay South Africans a fair wage or rate. There are at least 100 South Africans (who are standing) who can do this job - and they are trained for exactly this work - but they require fair payment

Don't blame VC or MTN as both these companies have deals going with said company - why would they compromise themselves?? (and no I don't work for either of them)
Have a good day
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Hopefully this will get other large SA corporations that contract companies from outside the country to think twice before they do.
 
cavedog said:
I have to agree. There are many unemployed people in South Africa. Why not just employ South African's. The problem is they want cheap labour.
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Oh please, you know just as well as I do that finding competent workers in this AA/BEE infested cesspool is nigh on impossible.
 
I work in the same building as these ZTE techies. They are really sharp and friendly. I hope they resolve this without too much trouble for them.
 
Does anybody know what these guys were being paid ? or is it just assumed it was a pittance. I'm sure if it was a job that required a low salary, they could have gotten Zimbabweans to do it on the cheap.

My hats of to any company that is prepared to stick with their rollout promises and not use the word "immenent" all the time.
 
MickeyD said:
Not true. They are out there...
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They are just not willing to move from their current jobs which makes it nigh impossible to get them unless you are prepared to pay a whack. Again... this has little to do with Cell C it seems... what are they doing here then?
 
Kicker said:
This is just a cost cutting excercise the don't want to pay South Africans a fair wage or rate. There are at least 100 South Africans (who are standing) who can do this job - and they are trained for exactly this work - but they require fair payment
Click to expand...
...
“The workers are not employed by Cell C in any way, shape and form,” said Cell C.

“The information stems from an article in Business Times that was poorly researched and tendentiously written. As an example, ZTE provided the journalist yesterday with the facts that it had only been 4 workers (3 in Durban and 1 in Cape Town) and not 16 and that all have left police detention after producing their passport, which they did not carry on them while having dinner. The journalist refused to make adjustments,” said Cell C.
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So are they Cell C employees or not? Perhaps they are hirelings of a Cell C contractor? If they are then Cell C should fire them (the contractor)... Nice way to cover yourself, outsource and blame the contractor when it goes pear shaped... wonder if this is the case here?
 
SteveO said:
I'm a BSC and I set up towers.....
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+1
It's a cool job dude... don't let anyone tell you otherwise. For one, your mates who push pens are going to have spare tyres by 40... you on the other hand will be fit... provided you don't have some noob flip the switch on the biggest microwave you have ever installed while you are still connecting it!

Some jobs are just cooler than others, period!

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I don't see a problem with bringing in foreign workers for a once-off installation job, unless of course locals with advanced technical expertise are sitting on street corners, which I am sure is not the case.

For ongoing maintenance, yes, they will have to train and employ local workers.

But Home Affairs are a major problem here, they are cowboys.
 
FreshFruitDefenceINC said:
... provided you don't have some noob flip the switch on the biggest microwave you have ever installed while you are still connecting it!
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Then you just glow in the dark - cool party trick at a braai :D

Wonder if I can convince someone to let me set up towers - after all I was in Signals in the Army :D
 
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