Crackdown on restaurants, govt launches nationwide inspection blitz

By Thapelo Molefe

The Employment and Labour Department has launched a massive four-day inspection blitz targeting restaurants across South Africa, following reports of exploitation in the hospitality sector.

The department said the operation, which started on Tuesday, aimed to root out non- compliance with labour laws and ensure a safe working environment for employees in the sector.

“As part of our work we normally conduct both proactive inspections and reactive inspections. In our strategy we have identified both problematic and high-risk sectors as a matter of focus,” said Milly Ruiters, the department’s chief inspector for occupational health and safety.

Ruiters said a multi-disciplinary team of 1,984 inspectors, joined by the South African Police Service, Home Affairs Department and members of the hospitality bargaining council would conduct the inspections.

She said that they would focus on six key areas:
 Basic Conditions of Employment Act
 Occupational Health and Safety
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