NW903E - 11 March 2011

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION NO:1233 ( NW1373E ) Mr J J van der Linde (DA) to ask the Minister of Labour: Whether she has found that there is a need to appoint more labour inspectors to increase her department's visibility in work places; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW1373E MINISTER OF LABOUR RESPONSE: There is a need to appoint additional inspectors in order to increase the Department’s visibility. The visibility that is constantly referred to means that more inspectors will be more visible performing all the functions that they are mandated to perform. The Department has moved towards qualitative inspections, where teams of inspectors conduct full inspections on all labour laws resulting in a complete report being presented to the employer for consideration and compliance. The current resources in place within Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) are being stretched in an attempt to treat the current “disease/symptoms” of non compliance. The Department is to receive from National Treasury, a total of R60 million over the next two years (2012/13 – R28 million and 2013/14 – R32 million) in order to appoint the much needed inspectors in the new categories of inspectors identified. This will assist in securing more inspectors that are highly competent. The Department is currently engaged in a process of retaining inspectors that are well trained and fit in with its culture that it is building and employing highly qualified inspectors that will fit in with the Departments Vision and Mission and culture within IES.