Shortage of jobs worsens humiliation of black people through cheap labour

Clinical psychologist Angela Deh says studies show that priority expenses in low-income households are transport and electricity before food.

Whether you discuss domestic workers, farmworkers, gardeners or security guards, they know very little about their rights. They are often subjected to exploitation, be it low wages, unfavourable working conditions, long hours, no benefits, which can be very humiliating to one's sense of self.

Not being able to care for yourself and your family affects your esteem.

Clinical psychologist Angela Deh unpacks this with Clement Manyathela more.

What is humiliation? What is cheap labour? When we look at intergenerational trauma from things like apartheid, we have to then say that the whole system was built and derived from a point of view that black people were inferior and were therefore treated accordingly.

Angela Deh, Clinical psychologist

Workers feel vulnerable. This has deepened now in unexpected ways. During apartheid they found ways to resist what was going on even in the space of pacification but now we find that this has been replaced by desperate calls and spaces of unemployment.

Angela Deh, Clinical psychologist

In low-income households we are looking at how does one priority non-negotiable expenses. Priority expenses are transport and electricity before food.

Angela Deh, Clinical psychologist

Listen below for the full interview...

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