Workers taken through different pieces of labour legislation as part of Workers Month
As part of the month-long Workers Month campaign, the Department of Labour is currently embarking on workplace walkabouts in a number of workplaces in the Hospitality, Chemical, Wholesale and Retail and Agriculture sectors in the Northern Free State. These walkabouts are aimed at sharing vital information pertaining to labour laws as well as affording workers an opportunity to raise their concerns and share their views on the services of the Department.
Shoprite, Checkers, and Spur restaurant in Parys, Free State, were the very first workplaces to be visited in this series of walkabouts. These were followed by another set of walkabouts in companies which fall under the Agriculture sector such as Hinterland and Global Grain and Water Storage Solutions in Heilbron.
“We are not allowed to take lunch and are told that due to the nature of our business, production will be compromised if we are to abandon our posts for lunch,” said one worker from one of the companies in the hospitality sector. These workers were then told that in terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), all workers are allowed to take a maximum of one hour for lunch, however, by agreement between the employee/s and employer this may be reduced to 30 minutes.
“The BCEA stipulates very clearly that all workers are entitled to sick, family responsibility and annual leave respectively. As the Department we take exception to employers who are failing to adhere to the legislated provisions,” lamented Lorrain May – Principal Inspector for BCEA.
Workers were also told that they forfeit their Unemployment Insurance benefits should they voluntarily resign from work. This is in terms of the Unemployment Insurance Act which clearly stipulates that Unemployment benefits are payable to someone who lost his/her job but is looking and available for employment. Thus you are automatically registered as a jobseeker immediately you apply for this benefit.
Section 17 (4) (d) stipulates that when the application for unemployment benefit is approved the claims officer may direct an applicant to report to the employment office for purposes of confirming that the contributor has been unemployed for the period in respect of which the unemployment benefits has been claimed. Section 17 further states that such a claimant should be capable of and available for work.
The first week of this series of walkabouts will be sealed on a high note with a special visit to two Petro-chemical companies in Sasolburg on the 04th of May 2018.
This special visit will be graced by the presence of the Provincial Executive Committee of the Department of Labour in the Free State.
“We really want to claim our space as the Department, and there is no better way to do that than during this important calendar month which has been set aside to commemorate and celebrate strides made by workers across the country,” said Nomfundo Douw-Jack – Head of the Department of Labour in the Free State.
Officials from other Business Units of the Department such as Public Employment Services, Compensation Fund and Unemployment Insurance Fund will also present and market their services to workers during these walk-abouts. 
For enquiries:
Provincial Communication Officer
Cell: 076 092 8152
