Inside this issue...

- Labour brokers are human traffickers
- What PPE must we give to casual labour?

Dear reader,

On Sunday I went with my fiancé to The Star’s Workplace Expo at the Dome in Northgate, Johannesburg. While we wandered around, I noticed a stall advertising work in heavy industry and remembered seeing an article last week Friday, in the Cape Times, around the possible banning of all labour brokers.

Labour brokers are human traffickers

Our Labour Minister, Membathisi Mdladlana, addressed the national bargaining conference of the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers Union in Pretoria on Thursday 19 March. He says labour brokers are nothing more than “human traffickers”.

In a controversial statement, the Minister stated, “It is selling people, it is inhumane, and it is against the constitution of South Africa.” He also said the ANC plans to ban labour brokers after the coming elections, and that many labour brokers didn’t take responsibility for their workers and often didn’t contribute to the Unemployment Insurance Fund.

What do you think of the Minister’s statement? Let me know at safety@fsp.co.za.

But, this hasn’t happened yet, and issues around casual labourers and the regulations governing how you employ them still apply...

What PPE must we give to casual labour?

Question
I work in the construction industry. I would like to know what PPE I’m liable to issue the many casual labourers I employ.

Answer
No employee may be exposed to risk without you giving him the necessary protective equipment etc. This includes PPE. In the case of casual employees, they should have at least some of the PPE i.e. safety shoes and overalls. Casuals very often work from company to company and along the line obtain safety shoes etc. If they don’t have their own PPE, you need to supply to them.

In case of a labour broker, your contract with the labour broker should include what basic PPE (and pre-employment medical) the employees should have before you will allow them on your site. The labour broker will probably just add the cost for the above to your bill, but at least you save the time and some costs.

The bottom-line is that employees can’t work without the required PPE.

See you in a fortnight,

Nadia Pisanti