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The Star reported last week that horse groomers who went on a strike in Johannesburg in June over wages and working conditions might not be better off any time soon as there is confusion over which government department they fall under.
The parliamentary portfolio committee on labour heard that the industry was impacted by three different departments: agriculture, due to horse breeding; trade and industry, for the gambling; and labour, in respect of employment. Geoff Woodruff, a prominent horse trainer, addressed the committee on a voluntary basis and spoke of the need for a national grooms’ wage, viz.: “While we do work with animals, we work in entertainment and most of our work falls at night time. We don’t know how to adjust our hours, we would like to have a sector. Government should discuss what could work for us.” According to Woodruff, trainers in Joburg paid grooms more than those in Cape Town, with the former earning about R4,300 a month. Riders, who were independent, were paid R20 per ride. He said trainers were trying to get a national grooms’ wage. Of the 160 trainers inspected, only 5% were non-compliant with UIF contributions.
- Read the full original report at The Star
- Read the Portfolio Committee’s press statement in this regard at Parliament News
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page