The Department of Labour has presented an impressive array of its achievements to the Select Committee on Labour and Public Enterprises ranging from fraud cases that were detected, filling of vacancies and inspections conducted in the first three quarters of 2012/13 financial year.
The presentation was made by the department’s Deputy Director-General for Public Employment Services, Sam Morotoba in Cape Town on Wednesday. Morotoba, who was accompanied by Deputy Director-General for Corporate Services, Lerato Molebatsi and other senior officials, spoke about the department’s achievements resulting from the organisation’s strategic objectives.
“A total of 57 percent of fraud cases were received and finalised by year end,” he said.
Turning to the filling of vacancies, he said this has been reduced to a staggering seven percent.
On inspections conducted on companies complying with Employment Equity Act, the DDG said 60 public and 121 private employers were reviewed against a target of 240. Regarding inspections around labour legislations, 32 838 workplaces against a target of 33 917 were inspected.
He also said of the 55 484 complaints received through all labour offices, 35 884 against the target of 70 percent settlements level was realised within 14 days. On the Public Employment Services (PES), he said 427 349 work-seekers were registered on Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA) and of 207 950 were profiled within 60 days.
He said 278 998 were referred to various employers and institutions and 10 429 work-seekers were successfully placed in various institutions across the country.
On the labour policy amendments, Morotoba said, engagements at National Economic and Development Labour Council (NEDLAC) had been completed on Basic Conditions of Employment Amendment Bill (BCEA), Labour Relations Amendments Bill (LRA), Employment Equity Amendment Bill (EEA) as well as New Employment Services Bill (ES).
Bheki Maduna, Chief Financial Officer for the department, said the department had spent a total of R1, 772 billion against its adjusted budget of R2, 139 billion. This means that 83 percent of its budget had been spent at end of January 2013. Regarding challenges facing the department, Morotoba said these include unemployment and under employment.
“Interventions as set out by Minister Mildred Oliphant are the department’s contribution towards employment creation initiatives, amendments to current legislation, introduction of new legislation such as ES Bill, establishing strategic partnership for collaboration in creating and delivering value to citizens,” he said.
Ms Priscilla Themba, Chairperson of the Select Committee on Labour and Public Enterprises congratulated the department for the good work done and for having sent presentation on time, thus making things easier.
Enquiries:
Page Boikanyo, Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 082 908 3195
