This news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.News24 reports that the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) held a site inspection at takeaway food packaging manufacturer African Star Pac in Ekandustria in Bronkhorstspruit on Tuesday.
Some of the many red flags that the DEL raised included crushed or amputated fingers, a failure to adhere to multiple labour regulations, salary payment discrepancies and inadequate meal intervals. The company's product range includes fomo trays, polystyrene trays, various fast food packaging solutions, plastic cups, dessert spoons, and PVC cling film. During the process the provincial chief inspector, advocate Michael Msiza, said he was "very concerned" about the company's allegedly low compliance rate. Among the scores of issues was an allegation that some workers were forced to eat their lunch while operating the machines. "You have a machine operator operating while eating, which is very wrong. You must allow an employee to have a meal interval for an hour, and on agreement with employees, it can be reduced to not less than 30 minutes," Msiza pointed out. He alleged that the company had not submitted any Compensation Fund records, and indicated that the department would issue a compliance order. Msiza said they also discovered salary payment violations, in particular that employees were allegedly not compensated according to national minimum wage standards and did not pay overtime. Non-compliance with the Unemployment Insurance Act was also found. It was moreover discovered that three workers were not South African and did not have the required work permits.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos at News24
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