If it eventually becomes law the Employment Services Bill will bring relief to players who are currently indebted to sport agents who have a stake in every income they generate.

The Bill, which has recently been presented to Parliament for discussion is aimed at, among others, regulating private employment agencies. Sport agents are classified as such agencies.

The Bill also deals with the regulation of the controversial labour brokers which Cosatu wants banned.

As it stands, most agents get a 10% commission of the players' signing-on fee plus another 10% of the players' monthly salary. In addition they also charge the players some management fee for belonging to their stable.

With the average PSL signing-on fee at R2-million, agents get an average commission of R200,000.

Teko Modise is believed to be among the highest earners in the PSL, earning more than R250,000 a month.

Top agents in the country have more than 10 players in their stable.

Section 16 of the Bill prohibits any agency from charging any job seeker for providing employment services to that work seeker.

According to the Bill, the agency must only be paid agency fee by the employer who employs such a job seeker.

In terms of the Bill "any agreement concluded with an employee that is in breach of this section is invalid and of no force and effect".

Department of Labour deputy director-general for public employment service Sam Morotoba said the objective of the section on private employment agencies is to protect vulnerable employees and job seekers.

Morotoba said normally players were desperate to be signed by major PSL clubs and ended up agreeing to whatever conditions set by the agent.

He also said the bill was aimed at dealing with current situation in which employers use labour brokers to acquire contract workers to avoid paying any employment benefits to such employees.

South African Football Players' Union's national organiser Cappy Matutoane said they welcomed the Bill, which he described as "long overdue".

"It has been our call to have such a Bill and we hope it will become law," Matutoane said.

"Our players have been exploited by the agents who always take advantage of their desperation."

Matutoane added that they were also concerned about the huge disparity of players' wages in the PSL.

He said there were players who earned a monthly salary in the region of R300,000, while others got a paltry R5,000.

An agent will pocket a cool R30,000 if he or she were to get a 10% from a player earning R300,000 a month.

Players' agent Jazzman Mahlakgane also welcomed the bill.

"I always put the interests of my players first and if this Bill will protect their interests I don't see the reason why I should not support it," said Mahlakgane who manages a horde of top PSL players, including Modise, Siphiwe Tshabalala and Itumeleng Khune.

Another players' agent Steve Kapelushnik could not comment because he had not read the Bill.

Spain-based Rob Moore said he could not comment on things happening in South Africa.

"I can't comment about things that are happening in South Africa as I don't stay in that country any more," he said.

Attempts to solicit a comment from renowned players' agent Mike Makaab drew a blank yesterday.

Comments

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Fri May 24 13:16:38 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 6, 2012

DjEp

One must also understand that a sportsman's career last for not more than 5 years. thus he/she must earn enough money to make a living for the rest of his/her life.
Unfortunately our sportsmen (especialy) soccer they dull up stairs, no investments,no savings whatsoever and when they career take a nose dive they fall flat and we must pay for their funerals,etc,etc.
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Aug 6, 2012

dadaman1

There are players in the PSL who earn up to R300,000 - a month! - while others get a paltry R5,000
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And those who earn R5000 before deductions are

Lucky Baloyi
G Lebese
Masango
Nqcobo
Zvasiya
Katsande
Nale
B Khuzwayo
Mathoho
Bartman and
Nengomashe(was)-hence he left
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Aug 6, 2012

Pheli-Marabi

shame King Rau Rau Navigator how can u destroy amakhosikazi ka womens month.
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Aug 6, 2012

tpaz

Teko, showed why he earns more....GENERAL
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Aug 6, 2012

MorenaWaPolelo

Teko 250k tjo!!!!
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Aug 6, 2012

Flemza

Who cares what they earn ,its only temporaly so what , they can earn a million a month who cares , as long I`m able to earn a living from mearger R5 500 a month and driving my comfortable 1,6 sedan and no one bothering me , they can earn million rand who the hell cares anyway
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Aug 6, 2012

Chichi7

I actually do not expect to earn the same amount as my director earns which is 15 times more than my take home.
So the point here is what?
Do team players with Ronaldo want to earn the same as he does?
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Aug 6, 2012

NewKidOnTheBlock

they earn hell lot of money but in few years to come they will be broke. take Lerato Shabangu for instance. word says he is so broke he even went back home (tembisa) and he now drives around with old vw citi golf. the guy was earning R150 000.00 a month at sundowns & was driving fast nice cars. Shame.
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Aug 6, 2012

Lehido

I can't comment about things that are happening in South Africa as I don't stay in that country any more," he said.
==============================

Punk.
=================

Agents are ripping people off, Im a true living example of that.....Bloody labout brokers
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Aug 6, 2012

MommaC

"There are players in the PSL who earn up to R300,000 - a month! - while others get a paltry R5,000"

Well then the ones who only get R5grand should get better agents to negotiate for them.

I'm not happy about all these laws. Do we have no adults in the country? Why must the government act like 'mommy' all the time? If you don't like the terms then just don't sign with that agent. Those who charge a lot are usually those who DO a lot. That is why they can charge a premium.
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