Minister TW. Nxesi makes a surprise visit to a company that burnt down last year
Minister Nxesi lead a blitz inspection on the textile and clothing company in Newcastle that burnt down last June, where four workers died and 18 got injured, only to find the same appalling conditions prevailing.
The company, which employs mainly undocumented Lesotho nationals was found wanting in labour laws. The factory working area is poorly ventilated, with a single air conditioner which is also out of order; workers being accommodated in the factory; workers being paid less than the National Minimum Wage; workers being locked inside the factory; no soap or tissue provided for workers' restrooms; no eating area for workers, workers sleeping in a single poorly ventilated room in the factory.
During his interaction with the workers, Minister Nxesi was surprised to hear that the workers do not even know the name of their company as three names were mentioned.
Some of the workers had to be pulled out of heaps of clothing offcuts as they hid fearing arrest. Realising this, Nxesi said: “We do not fight workers, we want employers to respect our laws".
Subsequent to the company's failure to comply with some labour laws and regulations, it was issued with a prohibition notice – barring employees from sleeping in the factory and a contravention notice for not providing employees with an eating area, not having first aiders, not having an electrical Certificate of Compliance (CoC), not having a Health and Safety Representative, poor housekeeping, obstructing fire equipment and not providing employees with soap for washing hands and tissue paper in the restrooms.
Immediately after the inspection, Minister Nxesi proceeded to the Majuba TVET College stadium to present departmental services to the eMadadeni community. The Department offered services such as applications and enquiries for both the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Disease (COID), registration on the Employment System of South Africa (ESSA) database.
Minister Nxesi told the gathering that the biggest challenge today is unemployment. He encouraged them to take any opportunity they get. “To the majority of young people in this tent today, I want you to know that there is no job that is dirty, there is no job that is lowly. That is how we start-out and use the opportunity to gain experience and progress to the top".
The Minister warned the gathering never to pay private employment agencies or temporary employment service organisations fees for assisting you to find a job. “Report these unscrupulous agencies that charge you fees to labour inspectors and the police".
The minister encouraged the community to utilise the facilities provided by the Department at various places.
For more information, contact:
Teboho Thejane - Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 082 697 0694
Email: Teboho.Thejane@labour.gov.za
