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Following a series of outreach programmes aimed at taking services to the disadvantaged areas and providing awareness of the services rendered by the Department of Labour in the North West Province, a number of unregistered occupational injuries and diseases and; unregistered workers were noted.

The four days outreach campaign　　saw the core services which are provided by the Department delivered to communities around the areas of Taung, Christiana, Maquassi and Leeudoringstad. These services included registration of claims for Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), Compensation for Occupational Injuries & Diseases (COID) and registration of work seekers by Public Employment Services (PES).　

Though the highest number of cases attended to were from the registration of work seekers on the Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA) and UIF, the department is concerned about the cases that are left unreported in terms of Compensation of Occupational and Injuries and Diseases Act by employers and also employers who do not register　　employees with Unemployment Insurance Fund.

Ms Selete Qhamakoane, the Deputy Director Unemployment Insurance Fund, who was leading the tripartite organising committee says that, from the statistics gathered during these outreach programmes, it has become apparent that　 the Department　 needs to　 intensify these　 awareness programmes to reach out to disadvantaged areas as there is still some lack of awareness about the services that the Department offers.

"We had several occupational injuries cases which were not reported at all including employees which were not registered for UIF by their employers. This is a serious cause for concern, and we call upon employers to do the right thing and comply with the legislations as these would make things easier for their employees to access benefits especially in the farming sector" said Ms Qhamakoane.

During this campaigns, a number of claims were registered, processed and some paid on the sport showing the efficiency of the Department when coming to service delivery.

The Chief Director: Provincial Operations Mr Andile Makapela says the province will continue with this kind of service delivery campaigns as they form part of the efforts by the Department to accommodate people in areas that are far from the Labour Centres and Visiting Points.

The Department has ten regional offices in the province and communities are urged to visit them to confirm their registrations with the Unemployment Insurance Fund and report any cases or issues that they might have with their employers.

-ENDS-

For enquiries:

Botsang Huma

Provincial Communication Officer

Department of Labour: North West

082 497 7438

Issued by:

Department of Labour Spokesperson

Teboho Thejane

082 697 0694​