'Problematic' hospitality sector under scrutiny for employee exploitation issues

Clement Manyathela hosts a discussion, unpacking the labour laws that govern the restaurant industry, and the extent to which these establishments are adhering to these laws.

His guests are: Aggey Moiloa, Inspector General at the Department of Labour and Employment, Wendy Alberts, CEO of the Restaurant Association of South Africa and Louisah Modikwe, Gauteng COSATU Provincial Secretary.

Click below to listen

A viral video posted at the weekend has given insight into the exploitation of hospitality sector workers say industry insiders.

The TikTok clip (watch below) from a former waitron at the Babel restaurant in Menlyn, Pretoria exposed the poor working conditions of staff and even led to the eatery being raided by Home Affairs.

So far the clip has been viewed over 3 million times.

In it, the former employee claimed she was made to buy her own uniform (R1,000) and other equipment.

She says staff were treated 'like dogs' and were forced to work 13-hour shifts.

Moiloa says the DoL conducted inspections at Babel and an Ocean Basket branch following similar allegations.

She says it's not the first time such inspections have been carried out, calling the sector 'problematic'.

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"Ocean Basket did not comply, not even with a single piece of legislation that our department administers."

Aggey Moiloa, Inspector General - Department of Labour and Employment

"They were complying with the occupational health and safety act and issues of underpayment."

Aggey Moiloa, Inspector General - Department of Labour and Employment

Moiloa also confirmed that Babel and Ocean Basket owed staff hundreds of thousands of rand in unpaid wages.

Wendy Alberts of the Restaurant Association of South Africa says restaurants which are failing to comply with the relevant legislation need to be bought to book.

However, she says, they are the exception, not the norm.

"There are some restauranteurs that are maybe shortcutting some of these or maybe don't have the right information."

Wendy Alberts, CEO - Restaurant Association of South Africa

"When we have a dialogue that the industry as a whole is exploiting and not being compliant I have to disagree, because we've got a number of exceptionally good restaurants that are showcased on the world floor."

Wendy Alberts, CEO - Restaurant Association of South Africa

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