Press Statement
From: Newcastle Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Reference to the raids on Newcastle Clothing Companies
Date: 30 September 2011
South Africa
The Newcastle Chinese Chamber regrets the raid yesterday. Such intimidating actions do not help to address the issues raised by SACTWU nor will it help the national job creation campaign. The Newcastle Chinese Chamber met with SACTWU last week to set up a meeting with the Disciplinary Committee of the chamber together with SACTWU to discuss the matters contained in their memorandum . Yet despite this agreement SACTWU decided to ask the department of labour and home affairs to raid our factories.
We are concerned about the way the inspections were conducted because the joint teams were either lead by SACTWU officials or NBC inspectors. All inspections took more than 5 hours and longer and the actions were more like police raids on criminals. The raids resulted in loss of production to those factories and some factories cannot open today as their workers were frightened by the actions of yesterday.
Factories haven’t received the report from DoL about the findings, we will comment on the reports only when we receive them. Some so called illegal immigrants were arrested and detained on allegations of violation of the act. We have submitted proof and documents to the DoH and hopefully they can be released as soon as possible.
In one incident, 2 Chinese were arrested with valid permits with company A but found allegedly working in company B. In fact, they were assigned by their company A to supervise and check the orders placed to company B. The 2 companies are situated within 2km from each other. Both owners approached the chamber for assistance. The others had expired work permits but already applied for extension before expired date.
We are also curious as to why such raids only take place in Newcastle and in Chinese factories. The Minister seemed to hear the voice only from the trade unions but not from the workers and employers. The question can be rightfully asked if this is not bullying tactics because of the impending court case against the bargaining council and other stakeholders
All the 12 factories provided the officials in the task teams with full co-operation yesterday as we respect the laws of this land. We are however under the impression that government departments are supposed to assist the manufacturing sector as was recently announced by our President Zuma in Port Elizabeth and we would have imagined that the government departments would have engaged us as stakeholders in the SA economy and not like criminals.
Alex Liu
To read article:
Foreign textile workers arrested in Newcastle factory raids
At least 46 foreign workers without legal work permits were arrested in a surprise swoop by the Department of Labour at what it called “12 of the worst clothing factories” in Newcastle, officials said yesterday. Click here
2 comments:
I think Newcastle Chinese chamber must tell who companies are so that not all companies there are blamed. I still do not understand that this was only found now ...do not clients of these companies inspect the factories. I find it hard to believe that 60 people use one toilet and no complain or that rags used for how long this going on and no word from bargaining council or union or workers until now.
CT#1
CT#1 - the union & bargaining council act with only when the urge arises - then they are only too happy to point out the mis-deads & report on the alleged time these deeds have been going on.
What is shows is the unions lack of effort to educate employers constructively.
The council & union are so adept at intimidation & thug tactics they are not interested in educating employers - if they were these targeted raids would not so political in nature.
It's too easy for them to point fingers at others alleged wrong doings but do nothing to promote & educate so that all have a better understanding of what needs to be done.
They will however lay the blame at the employer associations doorstep - the usual i told you so BS. they shy away from there responsibility as educators within the industry but steadfastly cling to the whip as a means of education by means of intimidation. Too many old era practices are meted out by those that say they "fought" against it.
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