Labour Minister urges construction companies to comply with labour laws

Labour minister Mildred Oliphant. File picture: Independent Media

Labour minister Mildred Oliphant. File picture: Independent Media

Published Oct 20, 2017

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JOHANNESBURG - Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant has urged construction companies to abide by all labour laws or risk stern action from the Department.

The Minister issued the warning on Thursday following a visit to the Royal Bafokeng Housing Project in Phokeng in the North West. It is a R2.2 billion Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) investment project by the Public Investment Corporation (PIC). The project has resulted in the construction of 400 housing units on prime land in Rusternburg.

Oliphant said she was extremely concerned by reports that some companies were flouting construction regulations.

“If construction companies do not comply we will have no choice but to issue prohibition notices to stop them from continuing with their work. We will not compromise workers’ safety and lives,” Oliphant said.

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The Minister said she was awaiting a full report about the state of the compliance with all labour laws by construction companies operating in the project. The Minister was accompanied by her deputy, Inkosi Phathekile Holomisa, members of PIC, the UIF board, officials from the Department, National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), as well as Royal Bafokeng Housing Project Management.

She said she was happy with the partnership that has resulted in workers’ dignity being restored through the housing project.

-BUSINESS REPORT ONLINE

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