Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana’s inspectors on Wednesday “blitzed” media houses in Johannesburg – including offices of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) — to assess compliance with labour legislation.
In a statement Mdladlana, who accompanied inspectors to the SABC, said that the department was taking steps to upgrade its capacity to enhance its ability to ensure effective implementation of labour legislation, particularly the Employment Equity Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Basic Conditions of Empowerment Act.
Inspectors would be looking at such things are working hours and representivity in the workplace.
Inspectors visited the Sowetan, Independent Newspapers, Naspers as well as the SABC.
The minister pledged to make further visits to broadcast and media houses not included in Wednesday’s “swoop”.
The department said that inspectors, accompanied by the media, were initially prevented from gaining access to eTV offices.
“After negotiations, management allowed the inspectors on the premises, but not the media.”
Despite this, inspectors were unable to conduct inspections, because eTV staff were moving to new buildings.
The department said it would have to analyse material supplied by the Independent Newspaper Group before ascertaining whether it was compliant or not. Inspectors were still at the SABC following a heated meeting between management and workers at the broadcaster, where differences in opinion on levels of compliance were aired, said the labour minister’s spokesperson Snuki Zikalala.
Inspectors, however, have recommended that the Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) declare the SABC equity report null-and-void as it became apparent that workers did not participate in drawing it up.
The Sowetan was found to be demographically representative in terms of race, but not gender. Further analysis of information form that publication is also necessary.
“Today’s blitz is taking place in context of the release of the Employment Equity public register and the CEE’s annual report … both of which paint a less than an ideal level of compliance,” the Minister said. – I-Net Bridge