A factory owner from Riverside Industrial area is in hot water after the Department of Labour (DoL) charged them with fraud.
The owner allegedly owes the National Bargaining Council (NBC) more than R100 000, for debts, levies, provident funds and fines, said National Officer, Micheal Seocharan.
“We reported the matter to the Department of Labour (DoL) and the Labour Court summoned the owner with numerous warrants. All the materials and machinery will now be auctioned to cover the money these people owe us,” he confirmed.
The owner is allegedly denying all charges and allegations made against him and said his company was not the company the DoL and NBC were searching for, and that he did not owe any outstanding money.
“Two months ago we started receiving court summons from DoL, stating we owe SARS money. We immediately contacted the sheriff’s department and informed them that we are not the company they are looking for. We are a completely different company and I don’t know why they continue to bother me,” explained the owner, who wished to remain anonymous.
Mr Seocharan said NBC had been working with this business owner for the last five years, and they had now illegally changed their business name to avoid paying the money owed to NBC.
“These are the same people. They have changed their business name to avoid the law, but this so-called business name is not even registered with NBC. This is a common case of fraud and illegal trading. We will not allow this to happen!” he exclaimed.
Chinese Chamber Commerce and municipal councillor, Alex Liu, said the owners were not members and he never participated in any of their meetings regarding the DoL or NBC.
“I personally don’t have any good feelings toward this particular factory. The owner is an opportunist and has a track record of abusing his title as an employer.”
“Our chamber does not, and will not condone this kind of defiance! Unfortunately when the NBC steps in and starts shutting down factories, it’s not the owners who suffer most, but the workers,” he said.
Mr Seocharan said NBC would not tolerate business owners who tried to commit fraud and run from the law.
“We want to send a message to all business owners and let them know the NBC will follow correct procedures and bring justice to anyone who fails to comply with the labour law. There will be consequences to follow any and all criminal activities.”
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