INFOGRAPHIC
Financially empowering Africa ’ s deskless workers
Deskless workers make up 75 % of the South African workforce , covering essential roles in the food , hygiene , security , logistics and retail fields . Jem HR has just released the 2024 Deskless Worker Pulse which provides insights into these workers ’ job satisfaction , stressors and financial wellbeing .
The 2024 Deskless Worker Pulse report offers key recommendations , including EWA access , enhanced recognition , and transport assistance to help employers build a more supported , resilient workforce . South Africa ’ s deskless workers play a critical role in the economy . By addressing their daily struggles , companies can foster a more engaged , productive , and stable workforce . roles , depend on erratic public transport , and seldom have reliable access to computers or company emails .
Deskless workers are in a state of financial duress . Nearly half run out of money before payday every month . Of those , 97 % need the money for essentials rather than leisure or luxury expenses . Forty-four percent have no emergency savings at all , and 72 % say financial pressure affects their mental health .
Says Simon Ellis , co-founder and CEO of Jem : Many simply do not make enough money to get through the month . This leads them to rely on loan sharks , payday loans , or friends who charge lending fees . This incurs massive fees and puts them in a worse financial position .
The vast majority of South African deskless workers enjoy their jobs , although low wages and public transport are daily stressors . Deskless workers fill roles in the food , hygiene , security , logistics , retail and other sectors , and represent 75 % of the national workforce . These are essential workers who often operate under challenging conditions , states Nonsuku Mthimkhulu , Head of Customer at Jem .
They battle to make ends meet , earning around R5,000 to R10,000 per month . They are often in public-facing
Caroline van der Merwe , co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Jem , believes that while employers might not be in a position to offer wage increases , there are other measures they can adopt .
One option is Earned Wage Access , which gives employees early access to wages they have already earned . Over 70 % of deskless workers who have access to EWA said that since it was introduced , they no longer take out payday loans or visit loan sharks . 72 % said they worry about money and finances much less .
22 INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA www . intelligentcio . com