The Department of Labour has opened a case of possible child labour against the Sunray Timber Company for employing an under-aged child at a timber cutting site at Spring Valley Farm outside Zastron, in the Free State.
Labour inspectors yesterday shut down a site of timber cutting and processing at the farm after the employer was caught off guard running operations that exposed 17 of its workers including an alleged minor to unsafe working conditions.
The employer was issued with a notice to stop use of all machinery, including a forklift and wood cutters, on site until he ensures that a risk assessment was done, induction training was provided to all workers on the use of the machinery, safe guarding signs were visible and fire fighting equipment was available at the fire prone site.
The inspectors, while on inspection, found that workers were exposed to sawdust and harsh weather conditions without proper working procedures and protective clothing. It was found that employer did not inform the Department of Labour on the intended work on the site and there was no office or documentation available to prove compliance by the employer on labour laws such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act, registration and contribution to the Unemployment Insurance Fund as well as to the Compensation Fund. The workers did not have sleeping and ablution facilities and depended on an old movable trailer covered with a canvass as their quarters.
The inspectors found the employer to have also undermined the Sectoral
Determination for Forestry workers by overworking the workers for up to 70 hours a week while underpaying them a daily wage of R40, whereas the law demands that a forestry worker should receive an R1 221.83 per month and R6.26 per hour and should not work for more that 45 hours and more than 10 hours overtime per week.
The Labour Department, working together with the Department of Home Affairs and South African Police Service (SAPS) collected the names of workers on site to determine if they were registered for UIF as well as their nationality.
Enquiries:
Wisane Mavasa
Free State Provincial Communications
Tel: 051 505 6284
Cell: 082 806 1351
