ANA reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) said on Tuesday that workers had embarked on a strike at Venk-Pac Plastics in Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal, to protest against working conditions at the plant.  

Venk-Pac, which currently employs over 200 workers, provides plastic packaging solutions to various sectors.  Numsa said at least 150 workers had been on strike at the firm for the last two weeks, claiming that some managers had physically assaulted them and that female workers were allegedly forced by managers to have sex in exchange for jobs.  There were also allegations of racism and discrimination against African workers by their Indian counterparts.  Numsa spokesperson Phakamile Hlubi said the union was shocked by the treatment of workers at this firm and that the union would pressurise the labour department to intervene.  However, the Venk-Pac management claimed the strike had been resolved and that operations had resumed.  No more details were provided.

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