Employment and Labour’s IES spotlight’s labour law compliance in hospitality sector

More than two years since coming into force, the National Minimum Wage (NMW) Act will come under the spotlight when the Department of Employment and Labour’s Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) host a seminar to the Hospitality Sector operating in the Western Cape Province.

The seminar will be held under the theme: “Paying the National Minimum Wage is the Right Thing to Do”. The seminar is part of IES’ quest to educate stakeholders on labour laws.

The Hospitality Sector has long being identified as a high risk when it comes to compliance with labour laws.

The Department has conducted a number of inspections to employers operating in the Hospitality Sector. The inspections were to determine the employers’ compliance with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, enforcement of the relatively new National Minimum Wage Act – and employers are still found wanting when it comes to compliance.

The outcome of inspections has indicated a need for an advocacy session. Some of the areas were non-compliance identified in the sector include: illegal deductions; underpayment of national minimum wage; non-compliant written particulars of employment (contracts); long hours of work and non-registration to the Unemployment Insurance Fund and Compensation for Occupation Injuries and Diseases Act.

Some of the stakeholders targeted by the seminar include: employers, restaurants, hotels, trade unions, organised business, employer organisations, employees, organised labour and bargaining councils.

Source: Government of South Africa