Worker rights disregarded in Mpumalanga farms
The exploitation and ill-treatment of workers including disregard of South Africa’s labour laws continues unabated in some of the agricultural sectors in Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga Province.
This week the Department of Employment and Labour led by the Chief Inspector Milly Ruiters started the week-long inspections in the area and found a number of employer in the agricultural sector wanting when it comes to compliance with the suite of labour legislation administered by the Department.
Ruiters said the inspections were part of an ongoing initiative to ensure compliance with labour legislation. She said the Department was focused on doing inspections and at the same time conducting advocacy.
The inspections focused on the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), National Minimum Wage Act, Unemployment Insurance Act, Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, and the, Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The Department issued a number of contravention and prohibition notices and plans to conduct follow-up inspections.
The Department has found several non-compliance in areas such as electrical faults, a lack of assessments, no record keeping, non-registration of workers with the unemployment insurance fund and compensation for occupational injuries and diseases acts, paying below the National Minimum Wage rates, non-provision of personal protective equipment, not informing workers about their rights and lack of compliance with health and safety.
A number of farms including Agrisearch, Errol Tozer, White River Garden, Angiyati, KMI Farming, and AP Vos & Seuns Farm were subjected to inspections and these farms continue to fail the tests in compliance with various labour laws.
The Department’s inspections will continue until Friday and will also focus on the wholesale and retail sectors. The inspections form part of build-up activities including taking services to the people in the province.
The Department tomorrow (11 January) will host a Jobs Fair at Thulamahashe local Stadium in Bushbuckridge to interact with work seekers and a Ministerial session with employers on 12 January at Southern Sun Emnotweni Hotel in Mbombela.
For more information, kindly contact:
Petunia Lessing
Director: Media Liaison
Cell: +27 66 301 4645/ Petunia.Lessing@labour.gov.za
