Twenty businesses in and around Brits were issued with compliance orders by the Department of Employment and Labour during a blitz inspection, focusing on compliance with the Unemployment Insurance Act (UIA), Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act (UICA) and the Compensation for Occupational Injuries & Diseases Act (COIDA).

“These blitz inspections were targeting the retail and wholesale sector in the area and it revealed that of the 71 outlets visited, most employers were not compliant with the labour laws. During these inspections, three undertaking notices and 20 compliance orders were issued,” said Botsang Huma, spokesperson for the Department of Employment and Labour.

These businesses did not comply with submission of declarations to the fund, non-submission of returns of earning, and non-payment of assessment.

The department’s provincial chief inspector, Boikie Mampuru, said this was part of the commitment by the province during the handover of tools of trade to inspectors in August 2019. “We made a commitment that the department will remain visible and active to ensure that employers comply with the labour laws as expected”, he said.

“Employers are encouraged to not be threatened by inspections, but, rather see them as a method that the department uses to help them understand the labour laws so that they can be compliant,” Huma said.

Follow-up inspections will be conducted in the near future to determine and establish if those found to be non-compliant have addressed all contraventions.