The Funeral Undertaking public hearings rounded off in the Western Cape yesterday (27 November 2013) as the delegation from head office employment standards unit visited Vredenburg in the West Coast on their final leg. Vredenburg was the last stop for the province following visits to the City of Cape Town and George areas.
The department embarked on this consultation process, in an attempt to gather information from both employers and employees on the future of the industry. A key discussion point for the hearings focussed on the establishment of a sectoral determination (SD) prescribing wage and also conditions of employment.
During discussions, participants appealed to and encouraged the department to regulate the industry. This petition was brought on following input made by DD: Employment Standards, Shaun Veldman during he’s deliberations on the status of the sector. “The industry’s name has been tarnished over the years by people who don’t uphold standards”, Veldman said.
Veldman’s presentation also included a segment on the basic conditions of employment act, which generated a further discussion on some of the grey areas on stand-by wages, working times and overtime.
There was also a strong call by the public to have adequate and accredited training for the the sector. Participants also sighted the lack of enforcement of occupational health and safety in the industry as a serious problem.
Those present were encouraged to make written submission to the department. All submissions are due by the end of January 2014. Submissions may be addressed to:
The Employment Conditions Commission
Private Bag X117
Pretoria
0001
Email: mogodi.masenya@labour.gov.za
Fax: 012 309 4709
Enquiries:
Page Boikanyo
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 082 809 3195
Candice Van Reenen
Cell: 083 243 3353
