Economics, Policy and Unfair Labour Practice
I’ve criticized a major retailer, Truworths, for their recruitment ads withholding pay information. Their adverts target vulnerable youth and unemployed graduates who have very little access to resources and support systems.
Truworths doesn’t disclose salary ranges in adverts claiming it’s ‘market related’ offers would be misunderstood and that applicants have fair opportunity to negotiate at an interview.
Do you believe that they would provide fair information during an interview? Should they have the right to require an interview before letting you know what their wage offer would entail?
Interviews require that applicants spend money, should they be spending what little they have to be interviewed for a job they cannot afford to take?
How much does Truworths South Africa pay?
According to www.indeed.co.za, the average Truworths monthly salary ranges from approximately R 2 441 per month ( $187,70) for Cashier to R 9 440 per month ($725,89) for Sales Representative. Average Truworths weekly pay ranges from approximately R 300 ($23,07) per week for Retail Sales Associate to R 749 ($57, 59) per week for Cashier.
Given that Truworths is firmly against revealing their salary ranges for opportunities and their claim that applicants don’t understand market rates – we can see how it’s possible that they exploit this ignorance to their own advantage, offering salaries that are among the lowest in retail.
Truworths says salaries are nuanced by experience and skill level, perhaps Truworths only appoints from among the least skilled and that’s why pay scales are below market average?
This could mean that Truworths isn’t competing for experts but actually looks at retaining those who have less to offer in the competitive job market! (Strange for such a high powered internationally focused brand, no? )