TMG Digital/TimesLIVE reports that Eskom is scrambling to find R634m to bridge the "apartheid wage gap" in which more than 50% of its employees‚ mostly black‚ are still paid less than their white counterparts.
Internal documents indicate that the state-owned power utility is projecting to spend R397m in this financial year alone to bridge the basic salaries of more than 17‚000 employees — 51% of its workforce. The documents also show that the projected cost would almost double to R634m if the fringe benefits of the affected employees are also adjusted to the level enjoyed by their white colleagues. A gender and equality analysis carried out by a consultancy also showed that "inequalities exist in terms of gender and race" at the parastal. But trade unions at Eskom have accused the company’s board and management of failing to prioritise the interests of their ordinary workers, while being quick to line the pockets of ‘fat cat’ executives. Elsie Pule‚ Eskom’s group executive for HR‚ confirmed that consultancy firm Deloitte and Touche had been assigned to do the costing of the wage bridge, but said a definitive amount has not yet been calculated.
- Read this report by Thabo Mokone in full at BusinessLive
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