Street parking company cleared of mistreating employees
Marshals claimed they don’t get a basic salary and have to pay parking target shortfalls
THE Labour Department has cleared City-contracted parking company Street Parking Solutions of any wrongdoing after employees said they were being ill-treated.
The Cape Times last month spoke to some of the 174 marshals employed by the company, which is used by the City to collect parking fees in the CBD.
The marshals claimed they don’t get a basic salary and sometimes have to pay parking target shortfalls out of their own pockets.
The also said they do not get lunch breaks and are not provided with toilets.
The Department of Labour in turn launched an inspection into the working conditions of the staffers.
Chief inspector of the provincial labour department David Esau said in the case of parking marshals there was no prescribed basic minimum wage per hour, per week, or per month, compared to other informal sectors, such as seasonal farm work.
Esau said several employees interviewed during the inspection process said they received a daily shift allowance of R35 atop their commission-based wages.
Employees also get a 30-minute meal interval taken at their discretion between 11am and 3pm.
“Last but not least, employees interviewed also confirmed that they are not subjected to pay for any shortfalls to the daily target.
“On the matter of toilet facilities, the employer has a standing arrangement with the management of the building where the marshals’ find themselves to use the toilet facilities.”
When the Cape Times approached Street Parking Solutions for comment, company owner Zunade Loghdey said: “No comment.”
The City said it gets a fixed monthly payment of R681 664 from the company.
Responding to questions sent by the Cape Times, Mayco member for transport and urban development Brett Herron said on-street parking tariff increases were aimed at encouraging sustainable travel choices and supporting parking behaviour in business districts to ensure a high turnover of on-street parking bays where there is a high demand for on-street parking.