Most SA employers comply with laws

Cape Town - The labour department is intensifying its efforts on inspection and enforcement of compliance with labour legislation, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant said on Tuesday.

"As at the turn of the fourth quarter (of 2010), our inspectors visited more than 192 000 workplaces across the country," she told the National Assembly during debate on her budget vote.

Of the workplaces visited, 77% were found to be compliant with the labour laws.

"During the year under review, we have continued to conduct blitz inspection programmes with the view of targeting high risk and problematic sectors," she said.

Activities conducted were focused on the wholesale and retail, construction, agriculture and forestry, hospitality and private security sectors, and a number of shopping malls.

"We are intensifying our efforts on inspection and enforcement as part of our commitment to ensure the creation of decent working conditions for workers, at the same time ensuring a competitive environment under which business can operate."

The department remains focused on ensuring the highest level of compliance by companies.

In this regard, notices have been issued to non-compliant employers and the department has referred 295 cases to the Labour Court and 415 employers to the magistrate's court.

"We hope that those who flout the law will be successfully prosecuted," she said.

The department has also begun to focus its energies on the need for professionalisation of the inspectorate.

"Professionalisation of the inspectorate would require us to consider issues of upgrading the level of inspectors and training of which we have already started to engage the service of the International Labour Organisation to provide training," Oliphant said.