BMW South Africa has responded to allegations made by former employees who protested at the company’s Rosslyn plant this week, claiming their contracts were unfairly terminated at the age of 60, while they were supposed to work until 65.
The car manufacturing company acknowledged receipt of the petition, both physically and electronically, but said it has already responded to the former employees, addressing the concerns raised during the protest.
The company said: “We have carefully reviewed the petition and have already provided a response to the former employees addressing the topics raised. While we acknowledge the receipt of the petition and the concerns expressed, we have addressed and clarified these matters through our established Human Resource and Legal channels.”
BMW further stated that it is important to clarify that the claims made by the former employees do not constitute any legal entitlement.
Former employees alleged that the company unilaterally amended their employment contracts without their consent, effectively terminating their contracts at the age of 60, instead of 65.
One of them, David Mohajane, who worked at the company since 1981, said workers were unaware of the requirement to file a dispute over unfair dismissal, saying they had trusted the company to handle their employment matters fairly.
This week, former workers demanded payment for the five-year difference between 60 and 65 years and benefits of the BMW 100-year anniversary for contributing to the company’s growth.
They called on BMW to respect and treat its former employees fairly, acknowledging their dedication and contributions to the company's success over the years.
The protest comes after a recent incident in September, where BMW SA employees at the Rosslyn plant staged a protest linked to a fraud investigation involving hundreds of employees accused of medical aid fraud.
Pretoria News