Question NW2797 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
24 December 2021 - NW2797
Van Dyk, Ms V to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
(1). Given that labour laws do not apply to contract workers in which bracket most employees in the arts sector fall, how does his department intend to ensure that the issues of workers in the arts and culture sector in this regard will be addressed in future to ensure that they are protected and can register for the Unemployment Insurance Fund; (2). whether his department has started working on solutions to also support the arts and culture sector in this regard; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW3317E
Reply:
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- The Department has undertaken several initiatives including:-
- Support Parliament as it finalises the Copyright Amendment and Performers Protection Amendment Bills. The enactment of these two amendment Bills which are currently with Parliament will lay a solid legislative foundation to protect creatives from any form of exploitation.
- The Department of Labour have been engaged. See attached Government Notice No. R1591 dated 11 Dec 2019 for reference.
- Further, the Department have ongoing consultations with SARS to ensure that creatives are registered on their systems to enable access to available benefits from Government which requires compliance with SARS’ prescripts.
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- The Ministerial Advisory Team has been established to work with the department and the creative sector to address challenges faced by artists with an objective of securing permanent solutions that are sustainable.