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Pretoria - Government has set aside R60m to employ additional labour inspectors to monitor labour brokers and ensure they adhere to regulations currently being amended, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant said on Tuesday.
Employing inspectors for the next financial year in different categories - such as enforcing labour law and ensuring worker safety - was a priority, Oliphant told media in Pretoria.
The money would go towards employing and training them.
Oliphant said talks were being held at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) by government, unions and business with the focus being on amending labour legislation.
"The central objective of the current round of amendments is to deal with the increase in labour broking and the abuses associated with the practice, which deprive many workers of basic protection under labour law."
Workers have in the current wage strikes also demanded the banning of labour brokers, with Oliphant blaming the unions for not informing members of the progress made on the issue at Nedlac.
"Workers don't have information on what's happening. Federations must report back constantly... no one would strike because they will be informed," she said.
All representatives in Nedlac were in agreement with regards to certain amendments, and were sent to report back and get the go-ahead from their constituencies.
Oliphant said she was told by Cosatu, which has been very vocal about the need to ban labour brokers, that raising the issue was part of bargaining.
Discussions on three bills at Nedlac, including the one on labour broking, would be concluded in August.
On the wave of industrial action that has hit the country and led to petrol shortages, Oliphant urged employers and unions to "meaningfully engage and endeavour to reach agreements on wages and conditions of employment".
Employing inspectors for the next financial year in different categories - such as enforcing labour law and ensuring worker safety - was a priority, Oliphant told media in Pretoria.
The money would go towards employing and training them.
Oliphant said talks were being held at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) by government, unions and business with the focus being on amending labour legislation.
"The central objective of the current round of amendments is to deal with the increase in labour broking and the abuses associated with the practice, which deprive many workers of basic protection under labour law."
Workers have in the current wage strikes also demanded the banning of labour brokers, with Oliphant blaming the unions for not informing members of the progress made on the issue at Nedlac.
"Workers don't have information on what's happening. Federations must report back constantly... no one would strike because they will be informed," she said.
All representatives in Nedlac were in agreement with regards to certain amendments, and were sent to report back and get the go-ahead from their constituencies.
Oliphant said she was told by Cosatu, which has been very vocal about the need to ban labour brokers, that raising the issue was part of bargaining.
Discussions on three bills at Nedlac, including the one on labour broking, would be concluded in August.
On the wave of industrial action that has hit the country and led to petrol shortages, Oliphant urged employers and unions to "meaningfully engage and endeavour to reach agreements on wages and conditions of employment".
