Press Statement dated 28 January 2019
Ongoing concerns about the health and safety of employees of the Department of Health Head Office in Pretoria resulted in a meeting with the Director-General on 25 January 2019 to discuss the report received from the Chief Inspector of Labour earlier in the month.
The PSA as representative Union of thousands of affected employees requested three reports mentioned in the inspector’s report that were not provided. These reports are the CSIR report, the Environmental Report and a report by Engineers. The issue of the medical screening of employees was also raised. The PSA called for an urgent meeting between labour, the employer and the Chief Inspector to discuss the Chief Inspector’s report and its implications.
It was subsequently agreed that a meeting will be held on 29 January 2019 with labour, the Chief Inspector and the Department. The requested reports will be provided to labour by 28 January 2019. The medical screening will be done by the Department in mid-February 2019 and it will report to employees on the process to be undertaken in a circular.
“The PSA remains extremely concerned about the health and safety of the employees involved and the public. This matter needs to be finalised urgently, “said PSA General Manager, Ivan Fredericks.
Issued by Ivan Fredericks, General Manager, Public Servants Association (PSA)