Department of Labour places private security under spotlight for non-compliance to labour legislation
The Department of Labour is to step-up labour legislation compliance efforts within the Private Security Sector and these will culminate in legal actions.
Addressing a Private Security Seminar held at Ilanga Estate Resort in Bloemfontein, Department of Labour Director: Advocacy Services, Zakes Mogwatlhe, said moves were afoot to sample worst employers in the sector and target them for sustained inspection blitz.
Mogwatlhe said the time to name and shame labour law transgressors has come. He said the Private Security Sector was one of the least compliant sectors in terms of labour laws.
He said the department will however continue on its campaign to advance advocacy campaigns to educate stakeholders in the sector about their obligations.
The private Security Seminar is held under the theme: "Improved compliance in the private security sector".
Department of Labour Deputy Director-General: Labour Policy and Industrial Relations, Virgil Seafield told the seminar that the department's efforts to establish a bargaining council for the sector had for years been frustrated by non-organisation in the sector.
Seafield cautioned that the employment patterns in the sector were changing and this calls for a response to ensure the protection of vulnerable workers and that the sector complies with labour laws. He said the sector faces challenges to ensure the deepening of unionisation in the sector, safeguarding workers social security after retirement and reducing compliance burden.
Mr Shadrack Matsela, Free State & Northern Cape chairperson for Professional Transport and Allied Workers Union (PTAWU) applauded the Department of Labour for convening this seminar.
"As organized labour, we are of the view that the Department of Labour is on the right track in making sure that compliance is improved in our sector. We therefore hope and pray that this seminar would culminate into better working conditions for security officers. On the same token, we also call upon the department to go for immediate prosecution of all transgressors of labour laws".
Enquiries:
Josial Ramokoena
Provincial Spokesperson: Free State
Cell: 083 292 4018
Email: josial.ramokoena@labour.gov.za
Mokgadi Pela
Acting Departmental Spokesman
Cell: 082 808 2168
