19 January 2007
Labour inspectors today folded their highly successful four-day Northern
Free State workplace blitz inspections with visits to domestic employers.
While inspections were by late today (Friday) still very much underway, the
findings of the four days of scrutiny in private security, contract cleaning,
wholesale and retail, manufacturing and construction in the Heilbron area near
Sasolburg show that out of 74 workplaces visited, 41 employers were failing to
comply with the laws while the highest number of 28 contraventions were for
non-compliance with Occupational Health and Safety Act, with some not
registered with compensation fund and Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).
In some of the workplaces, employees were working without any contracts, pay
slips or attendance registers and were being underpaid.
The department has issued a stern warning to employers who risk workers'
lives by exposing workers to appalling working conditions, to correct their way
or face the might of the law.
The crackdown is assessing employers' compliance on among others, Basic
Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF),
Employment Equity Act (EEA), Compensation for Occupational Injuries and
Diseases (Coida) as well as the Occupational Health and Safety Acts (OHS).The
culprits were issued with undertakings to comply within 21 days or risk being
fined or worse still, being dragged to court.
Enquiries:
Zolisa Sigabi
Cell: 082 906 3878
E-mail: Zolisa.sigabi@labour.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Labour
19 January 2007
