Cape Town - Applying for a job with the City of Cape Town, may cost you at least R13.50, and there is no guarantee that you may even get it.
A recent job advert posted by the municipality called for parties interested in a “Call Centre Agent” position to apply via SMS, requesting the applicant to send the word “Contact” to 33 002, at a cost of R1.50
The advertisement then states: “Applicants may be required to answer 9 questions via sms at a cost of R1.50 per sms.”
The Cape Argus has estimated that given that one text message limits the length to 160 characters, applicants could end up forking out a fair amount of money to answer those questions. Nine replies within the 160 character limit would cost at least R13.50.
While to most that may not seem like a lot of money, it is essentially the cost of a loaf of bread. That's quite a high price to pay considering South Africa’s youth unemployment rate of 38.6% for people aged 15-34.
According to recently released “Quarterly Labour Force Survey” Stats SA, the unemployment rate in the first four months of this year remained high among those with education level of less than matric at 33.1% while the unemployment rate among graduates was 7.3%.
User generated site “Numbeo” which provides current information on world living conditions, including the cost of living, puts the average global price of bread costs at between R9.07 - R13.61 a loaf.
Applying for a "Call Centre Agent" job with the City of Cape Town, may cost you R13.50, and there is no guarantee that you may even get it.
The City has defended this practice, with mayoral committee member for corporate services Raelene Arendse saying the municipality doesn't benefit financially from the process, and they are in fact looking at ways in which the City can carry some of the costs incurred by prospective candidates.
“The City took a decision in 2014 to utilise SMS technology to enable candidates, especially to the entry level positions, easier access to applying for such positions,” she said.
“Previously potential candidates would have to put together a CV, with all related costs of printing, internet use and travelling costs to deliver their CV's to the City.
“As an example, when we advertised for general workers for the database (a paper-based application process) prior to SMS, the City received about 20 000 applications. Our most recent advertisement for a similar position, via SMS, yielded some 50 000 applications, with all of the candidates’ information immediately available, electronically.
“Over the last three years, SMS has proven to be a more accessible route for candidates at this level, specifically as the application is compatible with all mobile phones. Candidates do not need a smartphone to apply.”
Arendse added that the City is always aware of the cost to applicants and that the key questions asked and replies required are kept to an absolute minimum.
“This cost has to be weighed up against the cost of the manual/paper-based process,” she said
SA Consumer Complaints’ Len Work said the City's methods are in line with current trends in shortlisting applications.
“Unfortunately, if you do not want to spend the R13.50, you can not apply. That sounds so harsh, but that is the bottom line of this,” he said.
“If you had to call in, it would also have cost you, is the understanding. As stated, that is the latest trend we find.”