Did you know that, according to the Western Cape Department of Labour, less than half of South African households comply with the laws governing the employment of domestic workers? Because of this, many domestic workers are exploited by their employers.
Newly launched local mobile app MiVoice aims to help break this cycle by managing domestic employee relationships and ensuring both parties legally comply with HR laws governing the employment of domestic workers.
Hennie Heymans, CEO of StratPay, the company that developed the app, says that MiVoice was conceived in response to evidence that domestic employees are among the most vulnerable employees in SA. “The unfortunate consequences of COVID-19 led to approximately 250 000 local domestic workers losing their jobs and only 21 000 of them succeeded with UIF claims. This predicament created the opportunity for the company to use its intended mobile wallet to uplift this much-neglected sector of workers.”
“Domestic employee relationships survive on the balance of many pillars, such as scope of work, remuneration, trust, payment on due date, legal requirements, compassion, financial, etc. But, until now, there has been no programme, no blueprint, no financial account and no effort to combine all of these and manage it on an equal footing for people who are sometimes closer than actual family,” says Heymans.
In some dispute instances, the domestic employee is coached by a trade union official to convince the CCMA that the employer is a tyrant who has treated them unfairly, so employers also need to protect themselves, notes Heymans.
He adds that, as the app evolved, it soon became clear it would add convenience as well as protection to domestic employers and employees alike. “The app has truly been designed to make managing household employees easier, better, safer and legally compliant, and we believe it will revolutionise domestic employment relationships in SA.”
The world’s first fully mobile HR management app, MiVoice administers all employment-related tasks, including legal employment contracts, pay slips and UIF calculations, and offers smart time and task management features, household safety features and commuter accident insurance. Employers are also able to deposit wages into employees’ MiVoice zero-cost e-wallets, who can then make free transfers to bank accounts, make account payments and withdraw cash. The wallet also offers charge-free airtime, data and electricity purchases, and digital vouchers for selected retailers.
MiVoice also offers insurance and personal protection services to employers at a premium, which is used to subsidise the transactional financial products made available free of charge in the hands of employees.
So download MiVoice on the App Store or Google Play today and make the way you manage your household employees easier, better, safer and legally compliant.
- 10 reasons to download the all-new MiVoice app - June 25, 2021
- You wouldn’t work without an employment contract, so why should your domestic worker? - June 17, 2021
- Simplify your life and empower your domestic staff with MiVoice - June 10, 2021
