Labour minister prioritises employee safety in the workplace
Speaking at a media briefing this week, Employment and Labour Minister, Thulas Nxesi said the department will also focus on social support.
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AS South Africa endures the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, Employment and Labour Minister, Thulas Nxesi said this department plans on tightening and enforcing safety measures in the workplace so they don’t become super spreaders.
According to Nexsi, the department will finalise a rapid response plan with Nedlac (National Economic Development and Labour Council), this week, to inspect workplaces across all provinces for compliance with health and safety regulations.
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This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa moved the country into an adjusted Level 4 lockdown on Monday.
“On a very positive note, let me also flag that the most recent Health and Safety Direction agreed that Nedlac includes a plan – with the support of labour and business – to utilise workplaces in the roll out of vaccines,” said Nexsi.
Speaking at a media briefing by the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) on this week, Nexsi said the department will focus on social support as well.
“We will work through the UIF to mobilise fund surpluses to provide income support to laid-off workers as well as Nedlac to facilitate social dialogue and build a united response to the pandemic and lockdown across the social partners: government, labour, business and communities,” said Nexsi.
Nexsi added, “Let us remind ourselves that in making workplaces safer, we not only protect lives, we also protect livelihoods and economic activity – which allows us to continue to function as a society.”
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