Durban Workers Clash With Phoenix Employer Over R5,000 Food Deduction

A group of Zimbabwean foreign nationals who recently completed a building project in Phoenix, Durban, are accusing their employer of unfairly deducting R5,000 from their wages, claiming it was to cover food and other daily expenses during the job.

The workers, who spoke to KZN Daily News on condition of anonymity, said they were hired to build a garage and carry out other renovations at a residential property in Phoenix. The job took several weeks. During that time, the employer provided them with daily meals. However, when payment was due, the employer paid them R25,000 instead of the agreed R30,000—stating that the R5,000 went toward food costs.

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“We were told the job would pay R30,000. We worked hard. Then suddenly R5,000 is gone because of food?” said one worker. “If we knew, we could have brought our food. We are not children.”

The Durban man who hired them, reportedly of Indian descent, declined to comment when contacted. His identity is withheld to comply with South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).

Food or Fair Pay? The Ongoing Debate

This incident has sparked a wider Durban community debate: should people working at your house be fed during the job? Whether it’s builders, painters, plumbers, or a team installing DSTV or aluminum windows, do homeowners have a moral or financial duty to provide food?

Some argue it’s an act of ubuntu or basic humanity. “These are people, not machines,” said one Durban resident. “Many of them travel far, work long hours, and sometimes charge lower rates just to get the job. Giving a plate of food is not too much to ask.”

Others disagree. “You are not hiring people to feed them,” said another. “You are hiring them for a service. If you want to be kind, fine—but it should not be expected. Especially when ten people are working at your house, it becomes too much.”

The situation gets even more complicated when no agreement is made up front. In this case, the workers say they were never told food would come at a cost. “We never signed anything. We trusted the man,” said one worker. “Now we are short R5,000, and there’s nothing we can do.”

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No Written Agreement, No Protection

Legal experts warn that verbal agreements leave workers vulnerable, especially foreign nationals who are often hired informally and have limited legal protection. Without contracts, payment terms can be changed or challenged with little consequence.

A community leader in Durban who works with immigrant support groups said this is not the first case. “We’ve seen too many of these disputes. Often, the workers are too scared to speak up. This time, they are speaking because they feel insulted.”

The workers are now calling for intervention from labour forums or community elders, hoping the issue will shine a light on how such informal arrangements often leave workers at a disadvantage.

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Whether or not food should be included in payment is still up for debate—but what is clear is that trust was broken, and R5,000 is now standing between these men and the wages they believe they worked for.

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