Labour inspectors in the Free State will on Monday 28 March, conduct blitz inspections in farms to check if employers are not taking advantage of school holidays and employ under-aged children.
Teams led by the Deputy Director for Inspections and Enforcement Services, Pule Monnaruri will also visit farms in the Petrusburg district to do follow ups on some farms against whom the department had opened cases of child labour after having found to have employed children last year to harvest potatoes and herd cattle.
The children were subsequently removed and placed in the care of their parents whilst the law takes its course.
The Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) prohibits employers from employing children under the age of 15 years. It also states that children above 15 years that are no longer subject to compulsory schooling in terms of the law may not be employed to do work that is inappropriate for their age or that places them at risk.
The department has identified a list of farms which Labour inspectors will target in this coming week to check on compliance.
The activities will be a build-up to the National Child Labour Day to be held on 4 April 2011 in Cape Town.
The media is invited to join the Monday Blitz.
Enquiries:
Wisane Mavasa
Cell: 082 806 1351
