1) Scope

This Privacy Policy applies to personal information processed through:

• Worker Profile submissions (skills, location, availability and verification details)
• Post a Job submissions (job category, area, urgency, budget range and related details)
• Jobs Board browsing and interactions
• WhatsApp claiming messages sent to the Foundation (profile-first matching)
• Any direct contact with us (email, phone)

In the Ekurhuleni pilot, the Foundation moderates submissions and does not encourage direct worker-to-client contact until verification is complete.

2) Information we collect

2.1 Worker Profile information

• Full name (or preferred name)
• Mobile number and contact preferences
• General location / area (e.g., Germiston, Katlehong, Tembisa)
• Skills / trade category (e.g., Plumbing, Electrical, Welding)
• Availability and work preferences
• Experience indicators (years, types of jobs done)
• Verification details used to reduce scams (e.g., ID last 4 digits or similar verification markers)
• Optional: references, photos of work, certifications (only if you choose to provide them)

2.2 Job Poster information

• Name and mobile number
• Job category and job area
• Job description and urgency
• Budget band or “quote required”
• Optional: preferred time windows and access notes

2.3 WhatsApp claim information

• Job ID claimed (e.g., HW-0001)
• Confirmation that a Worker Profile exists
• Profile phone and verification marker (e.g., ID last 4 digits)
• Availability, tools/transport confirmation

2.4 Website / device information

• IP address, browser type, device info (typical web logs)
• Pages visited and general interaction analytics
• Cookies (see section 10)

3) How we use personal information

We use personal information for the following purposes:

• To operate the platform: create and manage Worker Profiles and Job Requests
• To enable verification-first matching: reduce scams, impersonation, and no-shows
• To communicate: confirm submissions, request clarifications, coordinate availability
• To moderate: prevent spam, abusive listings, misleading claims
• To improve: understand what categories and areas need better coverage
• For safety and integrity: detect suspicious patterns and misuse
• For compliance: meet legal and operational requirements where applicable

4) Lawful basis for processing

We process personal information in line with POPIA and related South African privacy principles. In practical terms, we rely on one or more of the following:

• Consent (e.g., you submit a profile or job request voluntarily)
• Performance of a service (e.g., coordinating a match and communication for a job request)
• Legitimate interests (e.g., fraud prevention, moderation, platform integrity)
• Legal obligations (where applicable)

5) Sharing & disclosures

We do not sell personal information. We share it only when needed to operate the service safely.

5.1 Sharing between workers and job posters

During the pilot, workers do not contact job posters directly. The Foundation verifies basic details and confirms availability. Only then do we connect relevant parties. Shared information is limited to what is necessary for the job.

5.2 Service providers

• Website hosting, security, and maintenance providers
• Email delivery and communication tools
• Form tools used to collect submissions (e.g., website form plugins)

5.3 Legal / safety

We may disclose information if required by law, lawful request, or where necessary to protect users, the Foundation, or the public.

6) Verification-first matching (pilot rule)

The pilot is designed to rebuild trust in vocational hiring. Verification-first matching means:

• A Worker Profile must exist before a job can be claimed
• Claims are checked against profile details (e.g., phone + verification marker)
• We prioritize reliability and repeat work outcomes

7) Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal information, including:

• Secure access controls to website administration tools
• Limited access to submissions based on role and operational need
• Monitoring for suspicious activity and spam
• Regular updates and best-practice security hygiene

8) Retention

We keep personal information only for as long as needed for the purposes described in this policy, including moderation and audit trails. Typical retention periods (pilot guideline) may include:

• Worker Profiles: until you request deletion, or until profiles become inactive for an extended period
• Job Requests: for operational recordkeeping, moderation history, and dispute resolution
• WhatsApp claims: retained as part of operational matching logs

You may request deletion subject to legal and operational requirements.

9) Your POPIA rights

Subject to POPIA, you may request to:

• Access personal information we hold about you
• Correct or update inaccurate information
• Delete information where appropriate
• Object to certain processing (where applicable)
• Withdraw consent (where consent is the basis)

Complaints

If you believe your personal information has been processed unlawfully, you can lodge a complaint with South Africa’s Information Regulator. You can also contact us first so we can attempt to resolve it quickly.

10) Cookies & analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Make the site work properly (functional cookies)
• Remember basic preferences
• Understand site usage trends (analytics), where enabled

You can usually control cookies through your browser settings. Some features may not work correctly if cookies are disabled.

11) Children

This service is intended for adults. If you believe a child has submitted personal information to us, contact us and we will take appropriate steps.

12) Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as the platform evolves. The latest version will be published on this page with the updated date.