Illegal workers arrested in Newcastle

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Danette Breitenbach

At least 46 foreign workers who do not have legitimate work permits were arrested at a Newcastle textile factory on Thursday, 29 September 2011, after inspectors from the Department of Labour swooped on 12 factories in the area.

The department branded the factories as "the 12 worst manufacturing facilities in Newcastle". It is part of a nationwide initiative aimed at stamping out non-compliance of factory owners who illegally employ foreigners or abuse their workers.

The raid was conducted in collaboration with inspectors from the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Police Service. Nine workers were arrested in a similar raid conducted two weeks ago.

Textile factory owners have refused to pay workers the minimum wage as laid down by the Department of Labour, which is now trying to force factory owners to comply with the labour laws.

Apart from the illegal employment of workers, the Labour Department's inspectors found a number of other contraventions of the labour laws. These included emergency exits being blocked, sewing machines being operated without safety guards, no electrical compliance certificates in the factories and no soap or toilet paper in the toilets.

The South African Clothing and Textile Workers Union has laid complaints against employers claiming that they are exploiting workers and not providing them with decent working conditions.