“So in case you're wondering, May Day has a long historical tradition about the workers that built this nation. The house you live in, the bed you sleep in, the car you drive, the clothes you wear, the smart phone you use and every piece of food you eat, workers have made it possible.”
The Minister of labour and her Deputy will use the 2017 workers month to highlight the achievements of workers in South Africa and to take a pulse on the extent of compliance with our labour laws in order to ensure that workers are reaping the much deserved benefits.
Many have forgotten that only 22 years ago the South African workers were subjected to the most brutal labour laws on earth. Domestic and Farm Workers important as they are, were not defined as workers hence enjoyed no protection from the labour laws of the time, let alone not having any benefits. Workers were paid slave wages and could be dismissed willy-nilly without any recourse.
The Minister of Labour as the custodian of all our labour laws, will be mounting a Workers Month awareness campaign across the length and breadth of South Africa next month.
“Know your rights and responsibilities as a means to promote greater compliance”, is the message that will underpin the campaign. We are acutely aware that in some cases non-compliance carries the risk of human fatalities as we have observed in the recent construction sector accidents.
The Minister will brief the media on the national programme for the department that will see blitz inspections in sectors that are considered perpetual offenders.
It’s all hands on deck as the Minister, the Deputy Minister and senior management of the department will be leading this initiative.
The minister will also reflect on the key challenges in the labour relations environment including recent amendments to key pieces of labour legislations.
You are invited to the media briefing where you can interact with the Minister and her team in this regard. The briefing will be held as follows:
Venue:Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)
Tshedimiso House
1035 Francis Baard & Festival Streets, Hatfield, Pretoria
Date: 25 April 2017
Time: 12: 00
For more information, please contact:
Sithembele Tshwete
Tel: 12 392 9625
Cell: 071 675 9849
E-mail: Sithembele.tshwete@labour.gov.za
