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11 April 2005

Occupational health and safety remained the responsibility not only of the Government inspectors, but that of workers and employers as well, Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana said at the weekend.

Minister Mdladlana was addressing a gathering of organised labour leaders in Port Elizabeth as part of his five day Imbizo tour of the Eastern Cape.

The Minister said workplace accidents and fatalities could only be minimised or effectively prevented if union leaders taught ordinary workers about their rights - and not rely solely on random compliance inspections carried out by the Department of Labour.

Earlier before meeting with organised labour leaders, the Minister hosted a gathering of skills development service providers and the representatives of the Services Construction and Manufacturing Setas, Provincial Government members and Umsobomvu Youth Fund in Grahamstown.

The three-hour long discussions centred mainly around the challenges and difficulties the stakeholders face on their day to day operations.

Minister Mdladlana warned that corrupt service providers and government officials had to be kept in check and rooted out, as their actions were adversely affecting the government’s objectives of halving unemployment by the year 2014.

Minister Mdladlana, who follows his visit on today, has inspected several skills empowerment and job creation projects, one of which is entirely run by young people in Port Alfred.

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Issued by: Department of Labour
11 April 2005