Labour flouts own laws

Claims of questionable labour practices, nepotism, affected service delivery and disregard for labour laws are bubbling over the rims of a steaming hot melting pot of concerns about conditions at none other than a Department of Labour nucleus in Polokwane.
Despite a reported ongoing departmental investigation and attempts to expose the state of decay in the past, disgruntled employees have chosen to air a deafening demand for intervention at Polokwane Labour Centre based on allegations contained in documents passed on to Polokwane Observer. Shambles is how affected officials described their work situation at the labour centre in the main street.
According to reliable sources the investigation into affairs at the centre commenced in the beginning of the year, whereupon the departure of the investigator apparently led to the appointment of an internal investigator in June. The investigation is reportedly still underway.
Concern was expressed about staff and the public suffering due to the prevailing situation. Matters are seemingly leading to long queues or cases taking longer to be resolved, while productivity and service delivery are negatively affected. The names of aggrieved staff members are attached to a letter that echoes concern over the effect on service delivery due to in-house antics coupled with unfair labour practises, nepotism and total disregard for labour laws and practices.
It was stressed that officials were expected to enforce or ensure compliance of all statutes of the Labour Law, while they were working under extremely unfavourable conditions. “The department, as the custodians of the Labour Law, is not practicing what it preaches.”
By the time the investigation was reportedly launched, 80% of inspectors in the employ of the labour centre was apparently on suspension “due to nonprocedural practices by the management of the department who are also members of the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC)”, the letter stated. Further reference was made to the particular labour centre working on skeleton staff because of most inspectors attached to the centre being on sick leave, on suspension or hospitalised due to occupational stress-related disease at the time. “The situation is so severe that most of them have been suspended for three months without pay. All the suspensions are by law not procedural and therefore unlawful.”
From the documentation it was established that the problems have been perceived to be ongoing for more than two years and that demoralised staff members have exhausted all avenues as grievance procedures followed yielded neither response nor results in the past. Additional documentation lays bare damning references and information that seemingly led to matters being taken up with the highest office earlier this year. In it there is mention of high-ranking officials believing that they enjoy political privilege and consider themselves untouchable.
No comment has as yet been received from the Department of Labour.

Story: YOLANDE NEL
>>observer.yolande@gmail.com