Inspectors swoop on non-compliant employers
THE Department of Employment and Labour found some employers in the Matzikama Municipality in gross contravention of labour legislation following recent inspections.
Inspector-General Aggy Moiloa urged community members in and around the area to exercise their right to be heard and bring to light non-compliance cases from their places of work.
Moiloa made the comments during a community engagement session at the Vredendal North Sports Field at the weekend.
The engagement was held to deliver a report on the two-weeks’ long inspection drive by the Department of Employment and Labour’s inspectors in the area.
Areas inspected included Bitterfontein, Doring Bay, Ebenhaezer, Elands
Bay, Klawer, Koekenaap, Lamberts Bay, Lutzville, Molsvlei, Nuwerus, Rietpoort, Stofkraal, Vanrhynsdorp and Vredendal.
Employers were found to be in gross contravention of labour legislation, which Moiloa condemned strongly.
“The inspector-general expressed that the non-compliance reported has long lasting effects on workers’ economic, and ultimately, psychological well-being,” the department said.
Reports revealed that of all the labour legislations inspected, the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act was found to be the most disregarded.
Of the 182 inspections conducted, 77% of the businesses were found to be non-compliant.
In total, 472 businesses were inspected in various sectors including the chemical, farming, construction, domestic, finance, hospitality, iron and steel, manufacturing, security sectors, as well as wholesale and retail.
Other labour laws inspected included Basic Conditions of Employment Act, the Unemployment Insurance Act and Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act, as well as the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act.
“Through the Inspectorate and Enforcement Directorate, the department has issued compliance orders to the non-complying employers with an expectation for the contraventions to be addressed within 14 days, and in some cases 30 days.
“Inspector-General Moiloa closed the session with a strong message that there is no room for corrupt Inspectors in the department, who at the expense of vulnerable workers take bribes from employers to turn a blind eye to their unscrupulous labour practices,” the department said.