Department of Labour takes labour law compliance to the informal economy
The Department of Labour and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) are to host a pivotal conference focusing on bringing on board the informal economy in the area of compliance with labour laws including health and safety regulations.
The Deputy Director-General for Inspection and Enforcement, Aggy Moiloa will open the Conference.
The event, scheduled to be held in Cape Town on September 9, will be attended by leading academics, specialist inspectors as well as researchers in the informal sector. Speakers will include Thobile Lamati, the Director-General of the Department of Labour; Haroon Bhorat, of the University of Cape Town as well as Ludek Rychly of the ILO’s governance unit.
Tibor Szana, chief inspector responsible for occupational health and safety in the Department of Labour, said the conference will take place under the theme: “enhancing growth through change in the informal sector.’’
Szana said: “The informal sector remains a big challenge to us and this conference will create the thinking around the industry, especially with government having told us to move into the townships and create awareness about labour laws and the need to comply. The model we will be using will be advocacy and education based on the pillars of inspection and enforcement.’’
He said education and awareness raising would precede any punitive measures against those involved in the sector, adding that ‘’we can’t just go out there guns blazing.’’
Szana said it was critical to get the message of health and safety across to those involved in the sector. In doing this, he said the department needed to change the approach of communicating with the sector. Equally important was to get the buy-in from stakeholders.
He said if someone is invariable killed or injured as a direct result of the activities of those in the sector, the Department of Labour will be involved to establish the cause of the accident.
The conference is scheduled to start at 10am at the Strand Tower Hotel.
Enquiries:
Department of Labour’s Acting Spokesperson
Cell: 082 808 2168
