The inspection and enforcement services (IES) Business Unit of the Department of Labour will on Monday, 13 June embark on a simultaneous wave of blitz inspections in the agricultural and forestry sectors in the Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Free State provinces.
Acting chief inspector at Department of Labour, Zakes Mogwatlhe, said the raids will be a week-long initiative ending on Friday.
The crackdown will have a multi-pronged objective - to ensure promotion of good labour practices, apply compliance with labour laws and advise on labour laws.
Department of Labour deputy director of inspection and enforcement Services (IES) Boikie Mampuru, said 20 companies have already been identified and will be audited by IES’ well capacitated roving team. He said the department was targeting a number of high-risk companies in the not too distant future.
Some of the high risk sectors that have been identified by the Department of Labour for attention this financial year: agriculture, construction, chemicals, iron and steel industries.
Mampuru said the blitz was part of an ongoing national enforcement programme and follows recent inspection raids in KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape.
Mampuru confidently said, “This year, is the year of compliance those employers found by our inspectors for not complying with labour laws the must be not expect mercy from the department”
Mogwatlhe, said the raids enjoy the blessing of top leadership because inspectors and managers who offer technical assistance on the ground are often accompanied by the Labour Minister and the Director-General.
The crackdown will have a multi-pronged objective - to ensure promotion of good labour practices, apply compliance with labour laws and advise on labour laws.
Mogwatlhe said the inspections were part of advocacy and blitz inspection programme aimed at reducing workplace injuries, diseases and fatalities.
“Interventions will be based on the worst identified employers per province,” said Mogwatlhe.
Department of Labour Director-General Nhleko has also expressed concern at the flouting of occupational health and safety standards in the workplaces.
The department was planning to conduct some 130 000 inspections by the end of 2012 fiscal year to ensure compliance with labour legislation. The will also include companies listed in the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) Securities Exchange.
Enquiries:
Page Boikanyo
Cell: 082 809 3195
Source: Department of Labour
