Labour on successful community outreach campaign

Clients hail the Department of Labour during outreach campaign

Clients of the Department of Labour are singing praises for the department for a job well done. This is consequential to the intensive community outreach campaign the department, together with its entities, is embarking upon.

The 19th of October 2016, was the Wesselsbron’s lap of this series of these community engagements which also experienced a high turn out from the clients of the department. As a result, 301 clients from such a small town braced the early hours of the morning to attend the event.

The main objective of this series of outreach programmes is to take services closer to the people and provide a one-stop-shop of all service offerings of the Department of Labour. The campaign is hosted in conjunction with other branches of the department such as the Inspection and Enforcement Services, Public Employment Services, as well as the Unemployment Insurance Fund.

Key highlights are provided underneath;

Key highlights for Compensation Fund:

• 44 of these clients came specifically for Compensation Fund related matters.
• Two injury on duty cases were adjudicated and accepted as permanent disablements;
• One injury on duty case finalized and paid today, 21 October 2016;

Key highlights for UIF related cases:

• A total of 108 cases were recorded for UIF related matters;
• 24 applications approved and payments were made today, 21 October 2016;

Inspection and Enforcement Services cases:

• 21 UIF, Compensation Fund and Basic Conditions of Employment Act cases identified and recorded for further investigation
• 10 Occupational Health and Safety cases, inclusive of 3 fatalities were recorded
• 40 CCMA cases were also attended to by the entity’s officials

Public Employment Services:

• 75 CVs received from job seekers for possible placement

Mahlobo Mabitlela from Wesselsbron whose finger was amputated after an unfortunate accident at LFC milling is one such client who was so delighted to have been assisted by the Department.  “I came here hoping for the best after hearing of this special visit to my town.  I am so happy that the Department delivered as promised.  My application for Injury on Duty claim was processed and finalized today and I was also told that the money will be in my bank account on the 21st of October 2016.”

UIF also delivered as expected, this was attested by a 51 year old Martha Nomvuselelo Ngili who applied for death benefits after the death of her husband. Her application was also processed and approved right on the spot. The payment was done immediately by UIF officials and she was informed to expect her money by Friday, 21 October 2016.

“I take my hat off for the Department of Labour, how I so wish this could be a daily occurrence. But I would also like to plead with them to target farming communities as they are in the far flung areas away from services of this nature,” said Ms Ngili. 

No less than 30 officials of the department from different units inclusive of decision makers within the Department will physically be attending to clients during the visits to different towns. 

Decision makers within the department are roped in to ensure that clients with Injury on Duty, occupational diseases or fatality claims as well as Unemployment Insurance claims are assisted and decisions to approve or decline such claims, provided all the required documentation is available, are made right on the spot. Work seekers are also encouraged to bring along their CVs to be registered on the database of the Department of Labour for possible placement as and when job opportunities become available.

The campaign is used as one of many pro-active mechanisms the Department of Labour has adopted to try and speed up service delivery and ensure the livelihoods of our clients are improved at all material times. 

The details for the remaining town are as follows;

Media is invited to attend, and for further details please contact the undersigned.

Enquiries:
Josial Ramokoena
Provincial Spokesperson: Free State
Cell: 083 292 4018
E-mail: josial.ramokoena@labour.gov.za