Streamline service

I ACCOMPANIED a worker to the Department of Labour today, which, unsurprisingly, is the exact mirror image of Sars.

Sars is efficient and clean and makes sure it gets its taxes.

The labour court is supposed to assist the worker in getting their salaries or wages. However, as one gets to the department, one can’t help notice scores of people waiting at the entrance.

After signing in (the security or X-Ray machines are out of order), the long queue begins.

An hour or so later you relate your problem to overworked employees who might tell you to come back another day, proceed elsewhere, or return with a bank statement. They are overwhelmed by pressure.

There are 15 kiosks or counters, but only 4 consultants. I am writing this from the back of the hall and wonder how many more hours we will have to wait and whether we will be told to return with further documents or told we are fighting a hopeless battle.

The situation is hopelessly pathetic and just as Sars is streamlined and efficient, government departments such as Health, Labour Education and Home Affairs need to be vastly upgraded and urgently brought brought into line.

Sadly and ironically, the wellpresented portraits of our president and leaders overlook a desecrated sign were some letters have been removed leaving behind a label of “asses” the very people who pledged to look after workers’ rights.

The service needs to be efficient and user-friendly. Frustrated workers have to get up at the crack of dawn, and spend large sums of money getting here, only to be told to return on another day and face the same slow dilemma yet again, and again... Agi Orfanos West Beach