Takealot In Hot Water With SA Authorities Over safety Hiring Illegal Foreign Nationals
Takealot, South Africa’s largest online retailer, is in hot water with the Department of Employment and Labour over health and safety concerns, as well as the hiring of undocumented foreign nationals.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, 28 September, the department said it had issued three notices to Takealot in Gauteng for noncompliance with Occupational Health and Safety regulations.
“The Department of Employment and Labour’s Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) inspectors have discovered that it has not been complying with the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993, at its warehouse in Gauteng, Kempton Park, where parts of the facility pose an immediate danger to its workers on-site,” it said in a statement.
Takealot has been given a period of 60 days from the date of service to get its house in order.
Takealot’s violation of several labor laws at the warehouse was discovered on Tuesday, 27 September during the Department of Employment and Labour’s joint Mega Blitz inspections, which included interactions with the company’s on-site employees.
According to the department, Takealot violated the following OHS Act regulations: ergonomics regulations, pressure equipment regulations, general administration regulations, hazardous chemical agent regulations, driven machinery regulations, and general safety regulations.
The management of the online retailer was also served with a notice directing them to improve the company’s clinic facilities, create demarcated drive ways inside the warehouse, and improve the warehouse risk assessment specification.
Takealot was also issued three prohibition notices that prohibited them from: allowing contractors on-site with step-ladders that did not have non-skid rubber, storing chemicals in a general storing area or racks because they are flammable and can endanger the health and safety of employees, and deducting money from employees for the provision of protective safety shoes, according to the statement.
The mega blitz inspection was spearheaded by Aggy Moiloa, Inspector-General of the Department of Employment and Labour, who indicated to Takealot management that the department was willing to assist them in complying with labour laws.
“We don’t take pleasure in seeing you being squeamish. We don’t want that because we hardly ever subscribe to the stick approach unless we are pushed to the limits, and if you push us, you are going to see that,” said Moiloa.
Inspectors from the department also discovered that Takealot was not in compliance with the Unemployment Insurance Fund Act, the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, and compliance orders were issued against the company in those areas.
At the Takealot warehouse site in Kempton Park, 11 undocumented foreign national employees and two employers were arrested, and three people were arrested in Pretoria yesterday. In the Silverton area, Home Affairs Immigration Agents were still verifying documents on outstanding cases.
Takealot has now responded to the situation.
The ecommerce giant said in a statement sent to Business Report, “Takealot is fully committed to complying with all laws and providing a safe working environment for all staff. We are aware of the notices issued by the Department of Employment and Labour in relation to the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993, and Takealot will work to comply with the Department’s requirement for remedial action to be taken within the next 60 days.”
