Employment and Labour conducts research inspections in Limpopo, 28 to 29 Mar

The Department of Employment and Labour's Inspection and Enforcement Services Branch in Limpopo Province will on 28 - 29 March 2023, embark on research inspections in the informal sector in Vhembe District.

The research inspections aimed at assessing the feasibility of transforming the informal economy into the formal one, as well as to protecting the vulnerable own-account workers will focus on the Tshakuma Food and the Tshalovha Khumbe markets outside Thohoyandou.

"This initiative is derived from the International Labour Organisation's Recommendation 204 adopted by the International Labour Conference in June 2015 which saw a need to intervene in the informal economy and transition the informal economy into formal economy," said Lucia Ramusi, the acting-provincial chief inspector.

She said the inspections are a build-up to a structured advocacy session which will take place on 31 March 2023 wherein the targeted audiences are agricultural sector, street vendors, entrepreneurs, ward councilors, non-government organizations, trade unions, community forums, small business enterprises, work seekers and traditional leaders.

According to Ramusi, the advocacy and inspections seek to address the issue of informality in the informal sector such as self- employed persons who are vulnerable and insecure as a result of lack of protection, representation as well as not enjoying all the employment conditions or rights as those employed in the formal economy.

"The team will also put an emphasis on the National Minimum Wage which seeks to advance economic development and social justice by improving the wages of lowest paid workers, preserving the value of the national minimum wage and promoting collective bargaining", Ramusi concluded.

The Department of Employment and Labour team is on a mission to transform workers in the informal sector and ensure that they are not trapped in poverty.

Enquiries:
Kholofelo Ngoepe
Cell: 072 097 2157
E-mail: [email protected](link sends e-mail)