23 April 2007
The Labour Court has slapped yet another equity violating employer with a
heavy penalty.
KwaZulu-Natal textile company Win-Cool Industrial Enterprise was last week
fined R300 000 by the Durban Labour Court for contravening Sections 16, 19, 20
and 21 of the Employment Equity Act. The court ordered the employer to pay R100
000 of the fine before the end of this month, and suspended the rest on
condition the company complies fully with the law's provisions by October 1
2007. Proof of payment must reach the court by 7 May.
The judgment follows a similar one that was meted out against Win-Cool's
fellow Newcastle-based textile factory Jinghua Garments which was fined a total
of R200 000 a few months ago.
The two companies were busted on the same day during a blitz inspection of
the area by Labour inspectors. Among the contraventions the two were found to
have committed were a failure to prepare and implement the Employment Equity
Plan as required by law and failing to submit their reports to the Department,
display the law on notice boards and consult with their workers on employment
policies, practices, procedures and the working environment.
The court has also ordered Win-Cool to pay for the Department's costs.
Expressing delight at the outcome, Labour spokesperson Zolisa Sigabi said
today (Monday) the sentence would hopefully serve as a lesson to other law
violators.
Enquiries:
Zolisa Sigabi
Cell: 082 906 3878
Issued by: Department of Labour
23 April 2007
