Private sector security companies have been accused by unions organising in the sector of deducting monies amounting to more than R50m per month from over 30,000 workers.
The chief executives of Shoprite, Pick n Pay and Spar said in a joint statement they were very disappointed that the government had extended a diesel levy refund to food manufacturers but not to food retailers.
Trade unions in the private security sector allege that employers continue to swindle workers. It claims that in the last 10 months, more than R75 million has been "fraudulently deducted from salaries".
Employer associations and unions in the private security sector signed a four-year wage agreement that will see guards' salaries rise 5% in each of the coming four years.