Released by Department of Labour on 20 January 2004
Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana will instruct the
Director-General of the Department of Labour to launch an investigation
into the construction sector as the first step in promulgating a
sectoral determination that will set employment standards and minimum
wages in the sector or areas where there are no bargaining
councils.
The Minister was speaking after visiting the Crown Mine's site where
three workers were killed and another two injured when building work
collapsed on them on Sunday (18 January 2003).
The Minister - who was accompanied by Cosatu Secretary General,
Zwelinzima Vavi and SACP Secretary General Blade Nzimande - said he was
appalled by the living and working conditions to which the workers were
exposed to on site.
"The employer - Rodacil - cares so little for the workers that they
were unable to properly identify the deceased. The two workers who were
injured and discharged from hospital yesterday were forced to live in a
cold shelter with no facilities. Workers are only paid R160, which is
much lower than what other workers are being paid," the Minister
said.
After discussions with the Minister, the Rodacil owner agreed to pay
to transport the injured workers to their homes and grant them
full-paid sick leave.
"Employers have to ensure that workers are protected and work in a
safe environment. Employers? cost-cutting exercises should not result
in increasing the dangers faced by staff," the Minister said.
The Department Investigation Team -who were immediately dispatched
to the scene-slapped a prohibition order on Rodacil Construction on
Sunday, halting all work activities on the construction site pending
investigations.
Preliminary findings by the Department of Labour inspectors are
that:
- RODACIL had subcontracted work to two subcontractors who are not
registered companies, therefore workers were not registered with
Unemployment Insurance Fund and the Compensation Fund.
- The company did not comply with construction regulations as no
protective equipment and clothing were provided to workers.
- There was no proper supervision of workers on site.
"I am angry and sad that employers do not take Occupational Health
and Safety issues seriously. How do you allow workers to work without
supervision and no protective clothing??
?Employers must value workers? lives and ensure that they work in a
safe and healthy environment.?
?Safety for workers remains top priority for the ANC government in
2004 and the Department will continue to conduct inspections to ensure
workers are safe at their places of work.?
"Let it be known that those employers bent on flaunting our labour
regulations and deliberately failing to comply with safety regulations
will not escape the course of this country's law", Minister Mdladlana
said.
"The construction sector has been a thorn on the side of the
Department of Labour and we have since made a commitment as government
to continue targeting this industry until they start prioritising
workplace safety", he said.
Figures compiled by the Compensation Fund indicate that an estimated
25 700 accidents were reported in the sector during the 2002 - 2003
financial year, which works out to more than 70 accidents per day.
These records also indicate that at least 150 workers were killed
during the financial year solely as a result of workplace accidents in
the sector.
"Aside from the obvious moral implications, the costs of this to the
overall economy are enormous, and needs to take into account issues
like disruption to production, loss of trained personnel.
"Just part of these costs includes the almost R204-million
Compensation Fund paid out during the year as a result in of injuries
in the sector.
"The Unemployment Insurance Fund also paid out a total of R2 335 527
in death and illness benefits to workers in the sector from 2001 to
2003," the Minister said.
The Minister added that the outcome of national inspections
conducted during the week of 27 October 2003, were of grave
concern.
"During the inspections 747 sites were visited and only 37 - that is
less than half a percent of the sites - were completely compliant.
Inspectors also issued 175 prohibition notices during the week," the
Minister said.
The Minister added that contraventions take place no matter what the
size of the site.
For example, at the end of last year Departmental inspectors
inspected 11 domestic building sites at the Mosselbay Golf Estate and
Penzula Estate in the Western Cape and unearthed an array of gross
violations of the Act, resulting in two prohibition orders being
issued.
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