violators
19 March 2007
Following on its ground-breaking successful equity prosecution, the
Department of Labour is set to take yet another employer to the Labour Court
for flouting provisions of the Employment Equity Act (EEA).
Cantoni Lounge (PTY) Ltd, a manufacturing company based in Stanger, north of
Durban, was this week served with papers ordering it to appear at the Durban
Labour Court for contravening several provisions of Section 36 of the EEA.
The company has been given until tomorrow (20 March) to oppose the move.
A successful prosecution of Cantoni Lounge would be the second such action
within three months.
In a watershed judgment earlier this year, the Durban Labour Court fined a
Newcastle-based textile manufacturing company R200 000 for failing to prepare
and implement the Employment Equity Plan.
Marking the first ever successful prosecution of its kind under South
Africa�s equity legislation, the company Jinghua Garments has been ordered to
pay half of the fine, with the remainder suspended for three years on condition
the employer is not found to have contravened any of the provisions of Sections
16, 19, 20 and 21 of the Act for which it has been convicted.
The company, which employed 280 workers failed to submit its report to the
Department, display the law on notice boards and consult with its workers on
employment policies, practices, procedures and the working environment.
Judgement has been reserved against Wincool � another textile company busted
in Newcastle on the same day as Junghua � and expected to be made soon.
"The Department strongly warns all would- be violators that this could be
their fate as well, should they ignore affirmative action measures that seek to
eliminate unfair discrimination in the workplace and redress the effects of
discrimination," Labour spokesperson Zolisa Sigabi said today.
Enquiries:
Zolisa Sigabi
Cell: 082 906 3878
Issued by: Department of Labour
19 March 2007
