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Fin24 reports that Shoprite has unveiled plans to test an automated Checkers concept store with no cashiers or till points, but the idea has not been welcomed by labour, with union representatives saying it was doomed to fail.
Reacting to the announcement, the SA Commercial Catering and Allied Workers' Union (Saccawu) said any technology that sought to eliminate the workforce would not work in SA. According to Shoprite's announcement, the concept store would allow customers to scan a smartphone app to enter, after which cameras and sensors would track what they took from the shelves. The retailer will then bill the customer using credit or debit cards saved on file. Saccawu’s Mike Sikani commented that any new technology seeking to replace labour was "unsustainable" and amounted to a "war" on job creation. "These attempts by retail companies to reduce human interaction are costly and unsustainable for the SA economy. This is a war against the primary agenda of SA government job creation, because South Africa is supposed to talk to issues of job creation," said Sikani. According to Sikani, automation in retail was a model that was "not even working in Europe". In SA, an additional obstacle could be the large unbanked population which would be unable to pay with cards. This, said Sikani, meant self-service would be "doomed to fail".
Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Anathi Madubela at Fin24
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page