​The Durban Labour Centre – the largest in the country and the biggest service centre in the province of KwaZulu-Natal –　 has resumed operations and opened its doors to the general public.　 The reopening will greatly ease the burden and workload experienced by nearby Provincial Office of the department.　

Meanwhile, clients in Verulam and Pinetown labour centres as well as the Chatsworth & Phoenix satellite offices which have in recent times experienced long queues by the public in need of our services, can now visit the Durban Labour Centre for service delivery.

The above-mentioned labour centres will remain open to service nearby clients continuously and to ensure that they receive services with minimal travelling and other associated costs.

According to the Deputy Director: Labour Centre Operations, Sibongiseni Biyase, the service delivery includes but is not limited to Unemployment Insurance Fund (TERS), Compensation Fund, Public Employment Services and the Inspection and Enforcement Services.　

To date, the Department of Employment and Labour offices including the Prospecton Labour Centre have been inundated with enquiries and long queues as a result of the closure of the Durban Labour Centre.　 The situation was exacerbated by COVID-19 lockdown regulations that resulted in a massive backlog of applications that needed processing after being dropped in boxes placed in the main entrances of these offices.　

The department is also experiencing large numbers of applicants who may have been directly affected by retrenchments resulting from the pandemic and the high unemployment rate.　

The Department wishes to remind all citizens and Durban residents in particular, to visit the Durban office and make use of the available facilities and services while minimizing congestion in the other affected centres.　

The office is located at the Government Buildings, Masonic Groove, Durban Central.　 The operating hours are between 7h30 – 16h00 (Monday to Friday) and the office Manager is Sibongiseni Biyase.　

The office contact details: Telephone - 031　401 9424, Mobile - 082　327 3034, 　email address – sibongiseni.biyase@labour.gov.za.　 The public is also encouraged to access our ONLINE SERVICES on www.labour.gov.za/ www.ufiling.gov.za.