BMW workers in PTA go on strike over allegations of medical aid fraud

BMW workers have gone strike at the plant in Rosslyn, Pretoria, accusing management of targeting them over allegations of medical aid fraud at the company.

The company approached law enforcement authorities to investigate fraud suspicions for members of the BMW Employees Medical Aid Scheme.

So far, six workers have been arrested, 20 dismissed and over 500 are facing disciplinary procedures.

Numsa’s Regional Secretary, Jerry Morulane says the union has been engaging with the management to save jobs at the company.

“The employer is confirming that your members were recruited by a runner, a runner who has got a relationship with a doctor and we are saying if there is a runner it means our members did not go to a doctor and suggest to the doctor that I am suggesting that let’s do X, Y, Z so that I can be able to benefit. But the runner came to a member and said look there’s money there, and because workers are struggling and have a problem they were lured into that racket or scheme by the doctor,” explains Morulane.

BMW says the strike has not affected production and will continue with the medical aid fraud probe.

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