Incidents of child labour uncovered by resolute Labour Inspectors in the Lejweleputswa District
The Head of the Department of Labour in the Free State, Nomfundo Douw-Jack, is shaken and taken aback by the outrageous and despicable conduct displayed by an employer, also operating as an illegal labour broker, on farms around Wesselsbron and Allanridge area.
Labour Inspectors together with officials from other state agencies such as the Hawks, the South African Social Security Agency and the Department of Environmental Affairs were hard at work today in a quest to make a clean sweep of these horrendous acts and save children from exploitation and inhumane treatment mooted to them by this individual.
To date, no less than 53 children below legal age to work have been removed from farms in the district. Save for those found in farms such as Driehoek and Weenen 2, the latest 13 victims were rescued from the farm called Kwaagavlakte.
“It is clear that the employers are clearly hell bent to circumvent the provisions of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act which prohibits employment of children and payment of minimum wages as prescribed by the Sectoral Determination 13: Farm Worker Sector.
To discover so many under age children is beyond imagination and is condemned in the strongest possible terms. To this end, we have opened three separate child labour cases with the South African Police Service against the employers,” said Ms Douw-Jack.
On a separate case related to these Blitz inspections, a farmer ferrying 31 seasonal workers in his truck from Wesselsbron back to North West was stopped by Labour Inspectors and ordered to head to a local police station on Friday the 1st of September 2017 where it was discovered that the 31 seasonal workers were under paid according to the minimum wages prescribed by the Sectoral Determination 13: Farm Worker Sector.
After the calculations were made he undertook to pay the seasonal workers the shortfall and has indeed kept to his promise and has paid his employees an amount totalling R85 312.05 yesterday.
“In an effort to keep the momentum and to eliminate non-compliance to Labour Laws, a multi-disciplinary Blitz team constituted by Labour Inspectors from several Labour Centres in the province; Welkom, Bloemfontein, Botshabelo, Ficksburg, Bethlehem, Harrismith, Sasolburg, Phuthaditjhaba and Provincial Office will be conducting Blitz inspections checking for compliance with Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Sectoral Determination 13: Farm Worker Sector, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Compensation for Injuries and Diseases Act, Unemployment Insurance Act and Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act in other farms in the Lejweleputswa district from Monday, 04 Sep 2017 until Friday, 08 Sep 2017.
We are unforgiving to any employer who tramples the rights of children and vulnerable workers and our efforts to rid the area of incidents of child labour will continue until compliance is achieved,” concluded Ms Douw-Jack.
Enquiries:
Josial Ramokoena
Cell: 083 292 4018
E-mail: josial.ramokoena@labour.gov.za
