There have been debates at NEDLAC concerning the most appropriate methods of preventing abuses of the system of labour broking but not much has been reported to date. Recently on this web site I referred to remarks made by the Minister of Labour at the Labour Law conference in Johannesburg and thought that the Minister was unlikely to ban labour broking.
In an article in BusinessDay today by Amy Musgrave, under the above heading, various views are reported from persons involved in the process.
According to the report by Amy Musgrave
“The outright banning of labour brokers is off the cards, but the government has several options it can consider in regulating an industry that has been accused of gross exploitation of workers, especially those in vulnerable sectors.
Labour think-tank Naledi has made suggestions that it believes will deal with the bulk of the problems associated with labour broking.
The call for the complete banning of labour brokers has gained momentum, with many trade unions accusing them of paying “poverty wages” and denying workers the benefits they are entitled to by law. But the Confederation of Associations in the Private Employment Sector , which brings together five member associations, is opposed to the ban on grounds that it could have dire repercussions for 500000 “assignees” placed daily by temporary employment services.
The confederation’s chief operating officer, John Botha, said earlier this month that he supported the co-regulation of the industry by the National Economic Development and Labour Council’s (Nedlac’s) partners to stop illegal and unethical practices. He blames the Department of Labour for poor enforcement of many aspects of existing legislation, which he says is adequate”.
Various other options are discussed in the article such as banning labour broking in certain sectors such as farming, construction, mining, private security and domestic work. It is also suggested that labour brokers must be registered and that a time limit could be placed on temporary employment.
In an earlier article by Amy Musgrave ‘Labour broking industry overhaul promised‘ in BusinessDay on 13 August there is reference to the fresh approach of the Minister.