Workers claim that even though the hotel is always fully booked they have to hassle to get paid by management. The hotel is owned by Allen Reddy, who also owns SA Roadlink bus company, the luxury Mogale Country Lodge, Pearl of Hout Bay, Pearl of Oudtshoorn and The Morningside Hotel in Durban.
The companies fall under the multi-million rand SA Leisure and Hotels group.
The 35 employees said although their contracts stipulated that they be paid on the last day of the month, they were sometimes paid 20 days late. They claim this has been going on for the past two years.
The employees said they had reported the matter to the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers' Union and the union's organiser Obed Sithole said they were forced to intervene last month.
"The employer has not given reasons why he cannot pay them on time," Sithole said, adding that the next step would be to take the issue to the Department of Labour although they were reluctant to do so.
The workers alleged that when they were eventually paid, their salaries would be slashed by half.
"Like now, they only paid 10 people but their payments was slashed by 50%," said one of the employees.
SA Leisure and Hotels group said through its legal adviser Marnus Kruger that "most employees' salaries were paid". Kruger said they experienced technical difficulties with certain employees' banking details during the salary run.
"But this has been resolved now," he said. However, the unpaid workers have disputed this assertion. The hotel has 108 rooms and charges R699 a night.
"This is not an issue of money because the hotel is always fully booked," an employee said. Another staff member said if they did not arrive for work because they did not have money, the hotel applied the "no work, no pay rule".
"If we come to work but don't get paid, which rule are they using?" the employee asked.
The employees said they normally get R50 for transport while waiting for their salaries which is later deducted when they are paid.
"We don't want to abandon this hotel because we love our jobs, we had hoped that they would realise this," they said. One of the employees told Sowetan that she earned R8,000 a month, but she got only R4000.
Kruger denied that employees were owed outstanding salaries and that they received 50% of the payment and disputed the allegation that workers were not allowed to take tea breaks and lunch.
"We are well acquainted with the labour laws of South Africa and duly adhere to the legislation. We confirm that all employees are entitled to their breaks and rest periods," Kruger added.
Source: The Sowetan via I-Net Bridge
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