South African Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana on Monday welcomed the reinstatement of 13 Northern Cape mineworkers, who were summarily dismissed for not going to work on election day, April 14.
However, Mdladlana said Reho Mining company’s initial decision to dismiss the workers was completely unacceptable and flew in the face of progress that had taken place during the past 10 years.
“The dismissals are an indication of the contempt certain people have for both workers and our very democracy,” the minister said.
The workers, who were dismissed on April 14, were reinstated on April 19, following an intervention by Kimberley Labour Centre inspectors.
Preliminary investigations by inspectors had also revealed that the company did not comply with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Unemployment Insurance Act and Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act.
However, inspectors did not issue any notices because they wanted to involve Department of Minerals and Energy inspectors as well.
The minister had earlier described the dismissal of workers as a gross violation of their basic constitutional rights, and a lack of patriotism on the part of employers.
“The right to franchise is guaranteed by our Constitution, and it forms an integral part of any democratic governance. It is a process whereby individuals are able to air their political views or chose which party has to rule without any hindrance.
“Therefore, an earlier decision by Reho employers lacked patriotism and had grossly violated workers’ constitutional rights,” Mdladlana stated.
He added that April 14 was declared by the president as a legitimate public holiday as per Section 2A of the Public Holiday Act 36 of 1994.
“For more than 300 years blacks were not allowed to vote, and employers who infringe their constitutional rights will not only face the law, but history will judge them harshly,” the minister said. — I-Net Bridge