it could happen!

How many times have we been wondering, as customers of a bar or a restaurant, if the owner of that business will respect employees rights? How many time did it happen in the beautiful city of Cape Town?

Most of the time, as a customer, I would sit in a bar or a restaurant to only enjoy my time, my coffee, my meal or my reading. Most of the time I wouldn't even know the name of my waiter.

Nevertheless, when you would have the opportunitity or the need to become that waiter or employee, your way to see the reality may change it.

If you would work in a kitchen of a restaurant, or as a waiter in a bar, it may happen to experience the following.

It could happen to find out that after 9 hours working under the smoke of a kitchen, the owner of that place may give you 60 R.

It could happen that you may come from far and an important amount of that salary? you would spend on transport.

It could happen that before being hired you may “give for free” 30 or even more hours of your precious time and energy.

It could happen that your salary?, at the end of your shift may be made out of tips which the customers of your tables has given to you. And if you are a woman, it could happen that, they will tell you, it will be better by showing your “beauty?”.

It could happen that, while working, you may pay your food and your drink, not if you only drink water.

It could happen that you may pay a deposit to get the apron which you will use once working.

It could happen that you may pay a second deposit for future damages of glasses and plats, for examples.

As a customer you may not think if your waiter rights are respected.

If you may become that waiter, your way of seeing life will change.

When you will sit again in a bar or a restaurant, as a customer, you may start to ask yourself a lot of questions.

You may start to think about writing this letter.

You may start to boicott places in the great Cape Town.

You may be sorry for the waiter who does not have another option.

You may be sorry for who working in the kitchen wont complain about his own treatment because he already may know the answer: the owner will point the door and say “ you can leave if you are not happy”.

You may be angry with customers who have never ever thought about it and enjoy their time whatever bar or restaurant they choose.

You may start to ask yourself what the best action to do as a customer!

You may start to ask around looking for answers.

This may happen or may not happen in the great Cape Town.