POLOKWANE – Good times will finally roll for hospitality sector employees at the end of July, after the Department of Labour’s announcement that they would receive a much needed increment, effective from July 1, 2014.
Mr Phaswane Tladi, provincial chief inspector said on Tuesday, “We are serious as the department is ensuring that the livelihood of vulnerable workers is improved.
“We have thus far ensured that employees in other sectors get an increment and this time our focus is on workers within this industry,” Tladi said.
According to the Sectoral Determination (SD) on this sector, employers with fewer than 10 employees will have to pay each of them R2 601,88 per month, up from the previous R2 415,86. The SD further indicates that those with more than 10 employees should pay R2 900,08 per month, as compared with the previous R2 692,74.
Tladi gave a stern warning to non-complying employers, “There will be a national blitz inspection planned to track compliance with this and other pieces of legislature which will take place on July 21 to 25 .”
“The inspection will give us an idea of which employers are not paying according to the SD and appropriate action will be taken to correct this,” he said.
The hospitality sector comprises bed-and-breakfast outlets, hotels, lodges and any form of hospitality at which employees’ work includes cleaning, cooking or serving guests daily. The industry employs some 500 000 people and contributes considerably to the employment status of the country.
