Attempt to hold brokers responsible

Pretoria - The labour department's inspectors may soon be authorised to enforce compliance orders among labour brokers, as part of proposed amendments to the country's labour laws, an official said on Monday.

The amendments to the Labour Relations Act and Basic Conditions of Employment Act aimed to curb the "shirking" of responsibility to workers hired by labour brokers, said labour market policy chief director Thembinkosi Mkhalipi.

"A worker will (now) have a right to make both the temporary employment services (commonly known as labour brokers) and its client (the company) liable for any accusations of abusive practices the worker may bring," he said on the sidelines of a public briefing session in Bloemfontein.

Mkhalipi said under the amendments, labour brokers would not be allowed to employ a worker on terms and conditions not permitted by the labour legislation.

If approved by parliament, inspectors could also use their discretion when issuing written undertakings, which would be enforceable without the inspector issuing a compliance order should the employer fail to comply.

Mkhalipi said the labour department submitted the proposed changes to the speaker of parliament two weeks ago, and they would soon be debated.