The Department of Labour inspectors today, Tuesday, ordered the closure of Meat and Chicken in Mabopane, North West of Pretoria, due to non-compliance of electrical installation, the distribution board is not covered and no certificate of compliance for electrical installation is available.
The bench saw does not have a start and stop device, its plug is plugged underneath the table which is always packed with grades. The freezers can't be opened from inside.
The business operators are not allowed to work in that section until they have fixed the problem and have a certificate from a registered electrician. The department will then revoke the notice.
Workers working in that section were sent home but the inspectors assured them that they are going to be paid the full amount by the employer and should it not be the case they can contact the Department of Labour.
These are on-going inspections by labour inspectors in the working environment to enforce compliance with all labour legislation and in the process a number of non-compliance notices are issued, forcing employers to correct the wrongs that were identified within 60 days to avoid prosecution.
This week, the department has turned their focus on forestry and agricultural sectors in Gauteng.
"The week-long blitz campaign, which started on Monday, 14 June, would build on the sterling foundation already laid by our inspection programme to ensure compliance with all the labour laws which began in February," says Meshack Magakwe, Communications Manager at the Department of Labour.
Areas of focus will include wages and other conditions of employment as prescribed by the sectoral determinations for both vulnerable industries.
He said vigilant teams of inspectors would visit farms to assess for themselves the level of compliance.
"Where there are problems, they will bring those to the attention of employers and give them time to correct. However, if on subsequent visits, the areas of non-compliance have still not been corrected, the inspectors will not hesitate but to enforce the prescripts as outlined in the labour legislation," Magakwe said.
He said the inspections have taken their cue from Labour Minister, Membathisi Mdladlana's often made statement that "workers' rights are human rights" and that there should be no compromise to this principle especially as it furthers the International Labour Organisation's decent work agenda.
Contact:
Mishack Magakwe
Cell: 082 908 1828
Issued by: Department of Labour
15 June 2010
