Eleven shops were given an early closure during a special joined operation inspection, organised by Department of Labour's inspectorate in Mokgopong (Limpopo province) on 13 to 15 April 2011. The special joined operation, which consisted of stakeholders such as South African Police Service (SAPS) dog unit, South African Revenue Service (SARS), SARS customs, Home Affairs, local municipality (health), traffic department, community policing forum and others, saw over 50 businesses thoroughly put on a lens.
According to Magda Glover, an Assistant Director: Labour Centre Operations in Mokopane/Mokgopong; the operation was conducted to ensure a total compliance with labour legislations by employers and to combat crime in the area. SAPS made several arrests as they were checking criminal records through fingerprints, while Department of Home Affairs also arrested illegal immigrants on the spot, Glover said.
Some of the legislations which were found to be contravened include minimum wages, contracts, employers' records, declarations and others, of which contraventions, undertakings and subpoenas were issued. But what made us give some of these businesses an early closure was when we discovered that they were contravening Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993, by not having installed legal electricity, not having fire extinguishers at their disposal, by keeping gas bottles inside the shop and employees sleeping inside shop, Glover said.
She further lamented that expired food amounting to over R80 000 was found in some of these shops and was confiscated and destroyed by the SAPS. From the department's side, the operation was a success as it became a deterrence factor for other employers of businesses to refrain from non compliance with labour legislation, she added.
Enquiries:
Johannes Mokou
Cell: 083 494 2180
Tel: 015 290 1603
E-mail: johannes.mokou@labour.gov.za
Source: Department of Labour
