BusinessLive reports that after visiting the North Rand Training Centre at the Randjesfontein Race Course in Midrand‚ Gauteng on Tuesday, Parliament’s labour portfolio committee said it was "not impressed" with the living conditions of horse grooms.  

Grooms went on strike at the race course in June‚ led by the EFF.  The committee’s members interacted with management of Phumelela Gaming‚ one independent horse trainer‚ as well as horse grooms.  "During an interaction with the horse grooms in their hostels‚ the committee heard about reports of long working hours‚ and failure to comply with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) legislation‚ allegedly by horse trainers subcontracted to Phumelela‚" the statement indicates.  The committee also witnessed “appalling living conditions in the grooms’ hostels‚ where four to five men share one small room and cook on gas stoves located outside their rooms."  Concern was noted about the absence of healthcare services on the Randjesfontein estate.  The department of labour has been requested to conduct "thorough inspections in the entire horseracing industry to ensure compliance with the laws of the country".

• A short report is at BusinessLive

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page