THE Department of Labour was yesterday met with anger from employers during the public consultation in Johannesburg on the amended labour laws.
The consultations were meant to be discussed and considered at the National Economic Development and Labour Council before the amended laws were sent to Parliament where they would be signed into law.
Moses Ngobeni, who is in the taxi industry, said the government had failed to help the industry formalise and had resorted to laws that would increase unemployment.
"The taxi industry is one of those industries that is creating jobs," said Ngobeni.
"Government has been back-tracking on helping to formalise this industry, and the new laws will not help the situation at all. Instead, we will be in a worst state than we were during apartheid."
The amended Acts are the Labour Relations Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the Employment Equity Act.
"The amendments include criminalising non-compliance on the side of the employer, replacing the present fine of R900000 for contraventions with a fine based on annual turnover and enforcing compliance," said Thembinkosi Mkalipi, chief director of labour relations in the Department of Labour.
"The amendments also address issues of child labour."
A new Employment Services Bill has also been introduced.
The new law seeks to regulate contract work, address issues of labour broking, clarify the role and function of public employment services and strengthen compliance.
Freel Tomlison, manager at Agri Gauteng, said the laws would be an administrative nightmare for farmers.
"Farmers operate individually. The present state of rural development is deteriorating with farms being sold to government, leaving workers unemployed," he said.
"Farming is in crisis now. Workers' numbers are going down and this will not help at all."
Most of those who attended the hearing said the government was hellbent on banning labour brokers and casual work.
South African Institute of Race Relations' Anthea Jeffery said: "The country has been losing jobs and research has shown that these laws will lead to more job losses."
But Cosatu chairperson in Gauteng Phutas Tseki said the institute had focused on the "output".
"The purpose of these laws is to help the suffering majority of workers out there, most of whom are black," he said.
The deadline for public submissions is February 17.
Employers against new labour laws
THE Department of Labour was yesterday met with anger from employers during the public consultation in Johannesburg on the amended labour laws.
The consultations were meant to be discussed and considered at the National Economic Development and Labour Council before the amended laws were sent to Parliament where they would be signed into law.
Moses Ngobeni, who is in the taxi industry, said the government had failed to help the industry formalise and had resorted to laws that would increase unemployment.
"The taxi industry is one of those industries that is creating jobs," said Ngobeni.
"Government has been back-tracking on helping to formalise this industry, and the new laws will not help the situation at all. Instead, we will be in a worst state than we were during apartheid."
The amended Acts are the Labour Relations Act, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the Employment Equity Act.
"The amendments include criminalising non-compliance on the side of the employer, replacing the present fine of R900000 for contraventions with a fine based on annual turnover and enforcing compliance," said Thembinkosi Mkalipi, chief director of labour relations in the Department of Labour.
"The amendments also address issues of child labour."
A new Employment Services Bill has also been introduced.
The new law seeks to regulate contract work, address issues of labour broking, clarify the role and function of public employment services and strengthen compliance.
Freel Tomlison, manager at Agri Gauteng, said the laws would be an administrative nightmare for farmers.
"Farmers operate individually. The present state of rural development is deteriorating with farms being sold to government, leaving workers unemployed," he said.
"Farming is in crisis now. Workers' numbers are going down and this will not help at all."
Most of those who attended the hearing said the government was hellbent on banning labour brokers and casual work.
South African Institute of Race Relations' Anthea Jeffery said: "The country has been losing jobs and research has shown that these laws will lead to more job losses."
But Cosatu chairperson in Gauteng Phutas Tseki said the institute had focused on the "output".
"The purpose of these laws is to help the suffering majority of workers out there, most of whom are black," he said.
The deadline for public submissions is February 17.
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