Labour Dept cracks down on KZN factory paying R4 an hour
The Department of Employment and Labour has described the working conditions at a textile factory in Mandeni on the north coast as beyond unbearable.
Inspectors conducted a blitz inspection at Isithebe Industrial area on Monday.
The department says the inspection was triggered by the death of four workers at a clothing factory in Newcastle in June after it caught fire. There were challenges with emergency exits among other several issues.
Chief Inspector, Milly Ruiters says yesterday they found that workers were made to sow up to 1 500 T-shirts per day while earning less than R1 000 a month.
"What we have found thus far is that there is non-compliance to all the relevant labour laws. The minimum wage is R25 and the bargaining council's minimum wage is R27 - we found people being paid as low as R4.
"There is non-compliance to occupational health and safety as well the regulations. What is also of serious concern is that the emergency exists are blocked and if there is a fire or any form an emergency you will find that the workers will find it difficult to escape."
