employers
20 March 2007
The Durban Labour Court yesterday, Monday, ordered three KwaZulu-Natal wage
flouting companies to pay their respective employees more than R60 000 in
outstanding salaries. The court order against the Umzimkhulu based companies,
Trendy Fashions, Sizabantu Furniture and Bedding and AF Stores followed a
request by Labour Inspectors who had found the three to have failed to comply
with government-legislated minimum wage.
In terms of the sectoral determination under the Basic Conditions of
Employment Act, workers in the wholesale and retail sector are entitled to a
minimum R2 289,30 per month in the urban areas, and R1 719,90 per month in
rural areas.
The success of the Department of Labour in having the compliance order
converted into a Court Order means that should the three companies fail to
comply with the latter, this might lead to the attachment of their properties
by the sheriff of the court to settle each claim.
Labour officials imposed the compliance order against Trendy Fashions on 3
October after finding it short paid its staff by R4 191,88 while the claim
against Sizabantu amounted to R3 036,60 and R57 325,15 against AF Stores. In
both the Trendy Fashions and Sizabantu cases, the Court Order was obtained
unopposed, while AF Stores and its employees reached an out-of-court settlement
which was also made by an order of the court.
Enquiries:
Zolisa Sigabi
Cell: 082 906 3878
Issued by: Department of Labour
20 March 2007
