City Press reports that more than 1,600 contract invigilators at the University of SA (Unisa) face the axe following the university’s decision to shift all examinations online.
“Unisa left invigilators nationally and internationally frustrated. We don’t expect something like this to be done by a big institution such as Unisa to contribute to the impact of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic by contributing to the high unemployment rate,” one invigilator bemoaned. The invigilator claimed they were in the dark about what would happen to them during the ongoing exams as the university had only communicated that their services were no longer required. It moreover did not give any details about their salaries. Apparently, the university, which pays invigilators between R75 to R150 an hour, has also not paid some of them for the May/June exams. Unisa confirmed that a communication was sent to “independent contractors” about the May/June exams. The contracts with invigilators, Unisa said, indicated that should independent contractors be needed, they would be informed in writing and for how long they would be required. Unisa commented further as follows: “Some of the independent contractors participated in protest action in the past two weeks. The signed contract agreement is clear that they were appointed as independent contractors and by signing the contract they accepted the terms and conditions stipulated in the contract.” Unisa also confirmed that it still owed some invigilators.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Msindisi Fengu at City Press (paywall access only)
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