Building firms face blitz checks

Johannesburg - The department of labour will conduct nationwide blitz inspections on companies in the construction sector ahead of the 2010 World Cup, a spokesperson said on Wednesday. The inspections would commence next Monday, said Page Boikanyo in a statement. The drive was aimed at ensuring compliance with health and safety laws particularly on 2010 Fifa projects. "With construction booming, we have the duty to see to it that workers operate in safe conditions and eliminate unnecessary accidents in a proactive manner," Boikanyo said. "The approach we will take will be underpinned by pillars of education, monitoring and ensuring compliance with labour standards." He said forthcoming campaigns included hospitality and private security in November and February respectively. "Our inspectors have just concluded gruelling blitz inspections in the agricultural as well as iron and steel sectors." He added that the department's inspection and enforcement division, which drove the campaign, demanded that worst offending employers be followed up and be subjected to prosecution. A database of repeat offending employers would be generated and a database of all outstanding enforcement cases would have to be determined. In addition, the department would create and act upon a strategy to reduce backlog, Boikanyo said. He added that senior department officials would accompany inspectors during their visits to workplaces. The drive takes place against the backdrop of labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana's position that "workers' rights are human rights and that employers should not put profits above safety", the statement said.