Question NW1807 to the Minister of Employment and Labour
30 August 2021 - NW1807
Mkhonto, Ms C N to ask the Minister of Employment and Labour
(1)What number of cases have been reported by domestic workers since the launch of the Impimpi hotline (details furnished); (2) whether the hotline was publicised enough to be known by all vulnerable workers even in the rural outskirts of the Republic; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) what is her department doing to rescue domestic workers who are allegedly locked in their employers' houses against their will and not paid overtime, as employers fear that when they are permitted to travel home, they may return and infect them with the coronavirus?
Reply:
The Impimpa Hotline was launched by the Minister in March 2020. Due to budgetary constraints, the hotline had to be discontinued in October in 2020. During this time 178 977 calls were logged. 20 346 (11%) of these were from the Domestic sector.
The hotline was publicised via various media channels such as TV and Radio. We believe that the publicity was adequate since these channels have wide reach.
In instances where domestic workers get locked up at their work places against their will, South African Police Services (SAPS) would have to be brought in, due to jurisdictional issues. The Department has not received complaints of this nature yet.
The Department conducts both pro-active and re-active inspections (based on complaints) at workplaces to ensure that employers comply with all labour legislation.
Domestic Workers should contact their nearest Labour Centre and register their grievance against their employers with the view that the necessary labour inspection takes place. The Department also conduct periodic advocacy, stakeholder engagement and awareness campaigns highlighting domestic workers’ rights.
In instances where there are complaints around non-compliance with Employment Laws such as the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, the inspectors would investigate such matters. To this end, the table below provides details on the inspections that were carried out in the domestic sector.
Latest Labour Inspections Statistics for the Domestic Workers Sector (2020/21 Financial Year):
|
Total Number of Inspections |
Compliance |
Non-Compliance |
Notices to Comply issued |
Non-Compliance with Notices to Comply |
Employers referred for Prosecution |
Amount Recovered |
|
5091 |
4900 |
191 |
191 |
137 |
54 |
R669 471 - 78 |