Employment Dept inspection finds Vereeniging company violates many labour laws

An inspection by the Department of Employment and Labour has found that a company manufacturing ceilings and pipes in Vereeniging is violating labour laws.

Vientiane PVC Ceilings and Pipes was raided on Tuesday by inspectors from the department, Home Affairs officials and South African Police Service (SAPS) members.

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They found contraventions of several working conditions and the discovery of a tunnel allegedly used to hide undocumented foreign nationals.

The Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Jomo Sibiya, said the discovery of the tunnel allegedly used to evade the law is something he has never seen before.

The Chinese-owned company, with almost 100 employees, is alleged to be using undocumented foreign nationals for cheap labour.

The probe found that not a single worker is paid the minimum wage, and the Labour Relations Act and Basic Conditions of Employment Act are being completely violated.

Inspectors also found some rooms without windows, believed to be where some employees sleep and eat.

They also found a pit latrine near a garden believed to be used as a source of food for the workers.

Sibiya said the owners have broken every rule in the book of employers.

“Workers here don’t have contracts, they earn below minimum wage, they are not registered with UIF [Unemployment Insurance Fund] and compensation fund so it’s just a serious problem that we found here.”

He added that such companies should be reported.

FOUR CHINESE NATIONALS ARRESTED

Four Chinese nationals working at the manufacturing company have been arrested on various charges.

Two were caught working without permits, while the others were arrested for obstruction of justice.

A Home Affairs officer explained what they discovered after searching the premises.

“We have intercepted six Chinese, two with retired permits, one with a life partner and PR holders and today, I learnt that they made an escape. They ran away, so I think we need to come back again.”