MEC Zikalala condemns strip searches for female workers at two Durban factories
The MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Mr Sihle Zikalala has strongly condemned two Durban factories that reportedly force female workers to strip naked on suspicion of theft when they knock off duty.
According to reports, the inhumane and degrading harassment of workers at Durban’s RS Fashions and Huntrex include the stripping of female workers under the pretext of preventing theft. The workers who refused to be subjected to these barbaric searches were allegedly fired from the factories.
Zikalala lamented the fact that these degrading acts came to the fore during the period of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the time when all the people of our country should be paying more attention in protecting the rights of women, children and other vulnerable groups.
Tabling a motion against the cold-hearted searches in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature today, Zikalala called on the Department of Labour to investigate and take the drastic steps against companies involved.
“We are setting up a special intervention team of the KwaZulu-Natal Economic Council comprising of representatives of government, organised labour, organised business and organised civil society, to work closely with the Department of Labour to ensure that the enforcement of proper and dignified conditions of employment are enforced, including preserving workers ‘rights,” Zikalala added.
Part of the critical tasks of the intervention team is to engage with the factories with a view to reinstating the workers who were allegedly fired for refusing to be subjected to humiliating searches as well as working to restore cordial relations between the employers and the workers.
Zikalala commended the Congress of South Trade Unions (COSATU) for intervening to protect the rights of workers and pledged government support for all workers who face abuse at the workplace.
Issued by the Provincial Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs
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