face action
23 February 2007
Twenty domestic employers in KwaZulu-Natal were today, Friday wrapped on the
knuckles by labour inspectors for failing to produce employment records of
their workers. The employers were among those raided by officials during a
blitz inspection of 1 912 households throughout the province.
They have been ordered to bring the documents to their nearest Labour
offices next week or face the might of the law. Inspectors found a total of 1
541 (80 percent) employers to be complying with the laws, while the 20 formed
part of the 371 (20 percent) who failed to adhere to legislation regulating
minimum wage payments, as well as basic conditions of employment in the
sector.
Some employers were failing to issue pay slips to workers, and others were
not registered with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), written employment
particulars also not existing as required by law. In some cases, employers were
not only grossly underpaying (R440) but also illegally deducting accommodation
fees from their employees.
The sectoral determination for the sector clearly states that an employer is
not permitted to make any unlawful deductions from the domestic worker's
salary. Permissible deductions include UIF contributions and a maximum of 10
percent for accommodation.
Domestic workers who work more than 27 hours per week in areas A (urban)
need to be remunerated with a minimum prescribed wage of R1 066,90 monthly and
for Areas B (rural), R865,54.
Written undertakings and notices were served to defaulters with inspectors
also providing advice to employers on compliance prescriptions. Employers were
assisted by inspectors in some instances to register with the Unemployment
Insurance Fund.
"Employers are encouraged to use the inspections at the workplace to get
their house in order. The role of a labour inspector is to inspect, advocate
and as a last step enforce all labour legislation if there is total and
intentional disregard for the law," department spokesperson Zolisa Sigabi
said.
Enquiries
Zolisa Sigabi
Cell: 082 906 3878
Zolisa.sigabi@labour.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Labour
Date: 23 February 2007
