The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) has begun the process of developing a labour migration policy which it will soon table before Cabinet.
The need for this was highlighted following a series of inspections conducted within the road freight industry in an effort to properly identify what was driving the violent truck protests.
The joint inspection task team comprised the departments of Employment and Labour, Home Affairs, Transport, the South African Police Services (Saps), the National Bargaining Council for Road Freight Industry and the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), explained DEL director general, Thobile Lamati.
Apart from the migration policy, other issues include non-compliance with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) legislation, failure to pay overtime, Sunday work, the holiday rate and implementation of incentive schemes.
The inspection task team also uncovered non-compliance with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.
“We now have a clear understanding of what is happening and we will continue getting regular updates from the department and other relevant stakeholders on the matter. It’s a work in progress. An attack on any worker, foreign or local, is a criminal offence and cannot be condoned,” said committee chairperson Mandla Rayi.
Rayi said the team would meet with other select committees and the departments they oversee, so they could deal with the situation before it spreads to other sectors.
