Pretoria – The Labour Department is rooting out non-compliance in the agricultural sector by conducting a series of blitz inspections.
The checks are part of a national initiative that saw more than 40 farms being visited in Limpopo during the week-long operation, which wraps up today.
The Department of Labour spokesperson in Limpopo, Johannes Mokou, told SAnews that the aim of the raids is to promote good labour practices, inspect the level of compliance with labour regulations and advise employers on labour laws.
Among the findings during the inspections at the 40 farms, the department discovered that employers fail to comply with the monthly minimum wage set by the Labour Department, which is about R2 400 per month.
“They [employers] fail to give contracts of employment, they fail to declare their Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), despite deducting this from their employees’ salaries and fail to give that to their employees,” Mokou said.
Mokou said the department has ordered employers to fix the issue of minimum wage by reimbursing monies owed to employees due to underpayment.
However, Mokou said that some employers are trying their best to comply with the Labour Relations Act.
“We want to encourage them to continue, as it is for the benefit of both employer and employee. A happy employee is a productive employee.”
The main regulations checked for during the inspections include the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, as well as Labour Relations Act. – SAnews.gov.za
