For a number of businesses, contract workers are essential to helping operations run both smoothly and efficiently. Typically, these individuals are motivated to work hard and prove their value in the hopes that their efforts will be recognized and full-time, permanent opportunity will be offered. For companies that use temporary workers, it offers the added benefit of using competent professionals at a fraction of the cost.
This is primarily because contractors only need to be paid a flat rate. Organizations are not required to compensate them with other benefits typically offered to regular staff.
However, in Chicago, the cost for using supplemental staff may be going up. According to a report from ABC News affiliate WLS-TV Mayor Rahm Emmanuel signed an executive order that raised the minimum wage for general contractors and subcontractors to $13 per hour. Of the city's 40,000 contract workers, this pay increase is expected to affect at least, or a total of 1,000 individuals.
However, while those in the Windy City rejoice, more than 8,500 miles away, in Zimbabwe, many contractors are finding themselves unemployed.
According to a report from Cellular News, Telecel, the country's second-largest provider of mobile services with an estimated customer base of 2.5 million subscribers, made the decision to cut as many as 250 temporary jobs.
These positions had been filled for the last six months with people helping the company in its attempt to increase its customer base.
"We do have contract employees who were specifically hired on a six month contract for subscriber acquisition campaign towards Telecash," Obert Mandimika, Telecel's communications and branding director told Cellular News. "Some 250 of these will be affected but we will engage them in the future if the need arises."
