The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Labour Ms Lumka Yengeni has called on the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to be more visible among ordinary workers.
“The CCMA must take its services to the townships where they (services) are mostly needed. The Commission could follow the example of the Department of Home Affairs, which on Thursdays takes its mobile offices to the taxi rank in Langa,” said Ms Yengeni.
The CCMA was appearing before the Committee to brief MPs on its programmes and budgetary requirements in preparation for the budget allocation process, which begins next week. “Institutions tasked with providing a service to the poor people should not operate in isolation from the people they are meant to serve. The people should not suffer the double burden of losing employment and be subjected to expensive travels to get help,” Ms Yengeni said.
“Indeed, cases are being reported but the CCMA should work on the distance factor, as other government departments are doing. The Commission should look into the matter of location of its offices and expansion.”
Ms Yengeni said the work the CCMA was doing in resolving labour disputes was of crucial importance. The CCMA has about 21 offices throughout the country, two of which are located in the Western Cape, far from communities that need these offices most.
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