The inter-ministerial committee’s resolution to increase labour inspections has led to the arrest of some truck drivers in Potchefstroom in the North West during a roadblock conducted on the N12 on Thursday. They were allegedly in the country illegally.
The labour inspections follow complaints by truck drivers saying the road freight and logistics industry is employing undocumented foreign nationals for cheap labour. The inspections were led by Labour and Employment Minister Thulas Nxesi.
Trucks were stopped during labour inspections and undocumented foreign truck drivers were arrested.
On Wednesday, some employers were also arrested for violation of various labour laws and labour exploitation.
They have allegedly employed undocumented foreigners as truck drivers.
“We discovered a lot of violations, companies which are not complying, having foreign national or having foreign drivers which are not legal and those are the issues we are going to take up. But also we have seen that there are also workers who have not been registered by this freight industry or the trucking industry. They do not have any UIF, no compensation fund. We think that these are serious violations.”
Nxesi says he was impressed by other companies who comply with the law:
Some trade unions have called on the government to take harsh steps where there is non-compliance with labour laws.
“If the government can make harsher sentences, like taking the operating licences of the businesses that employ undocumented foreigners, because if they just give the fine, these employers budget for those fines. It is within their budget. So, we feel that we must impose harsher sentences against those who are seen in contravention of the law,” says Congress of South African Trade Unions ‘Kopano Konopi.
Food and Allied Workers Union shop-steward Patrick Moleko says unions often raise concerns when there is non-adhere to legislation, and they should therefore not be barred from workplaces.
“We raise our concerns, whenever we have concerns with the management. We do make time to sit down and see how we can resolve those issues.”
The five-day labour inspection in Potchefstroom will be conclude on Friday.
