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The Department of Employment and Labour, in collaboration with other government departments, hosted a district development model (DDM) session in Amajuba on Thursday, 24 November 2022.
Taking place in Madadeni, KwaZulu-Natal the Department explained the DDM was an important public participation platform that reinforced the values of the government and elevates community voices.
Speaking at the event on Thursday, and with the DDM focused on enhancing service delivery, Minister of Labour and Employment, Thulas Nxesi discussed certain activities his department has been involved in.
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The most notable of these activities is that of the Department addressing issues within the Newcastle clothing and textile factories.
Newcastillian News reported on the matter on November 2022, highlighting the conditions that factory workers endured.
To read more, click here.
Discussing operations in Newcastle’s clothing and textile sector, Minister Nexsi had the following to say. “To address the issues of high levels of worker exploitation in the clothing and textiles factories in Newcastle, a team of Inspectors from various Labour Centres, the Bargaining Council, the Department of Home Affairs and SAPS conducted Blitz Inspections of factories in Newcastle and Madadeni Industrial Park from 14 to 18 November 2022.”
During this time, he said 70 factories, employing 30 539 staff, were inspected during the campaign.
“The compliance rate was disappointingly low at only 8% of the inspected factories,” stated Minister Nxesi.
The Minister further pointed out that, a total of 100 illegal foreign nationals were arrested by Immigration Officers, this included:
- 73 Lesotho Nationals
- 18 Swazi nationals
- 2 Malawians,
- 1 Zimbabwean,
- 1 Mozambiquean national
- 5 Chinese employers.
In addition, one fraudulent case of misrepresentation in terms of S61 of the EEA (Employment Equity Act) was opened at the SAPS.
“A total of over R148 million was claimed through the enforcement notices that were served,” said the minister.
As the Department of Employment and Labour focused on enhancing service delivery within its mandate, what are your thoughts on the above-mentioned?
Share your views in the comment section below.
