TAI Yuen Textile ruling 24-07-08

 

TO: ALL MEDIA

ELECTRONIC AND PRINT

ATT: LABOUR AND NEWS EDITORS

DATE: 24 JULY 2008

RE: CCMA RULING ON TAI YUEN TEXTILE

COSATU KZN welcomes the ruling by CCMA in the case against Textile. The R17 million rand fine that was imposed is one/if not the highest imposed on the company for continuously underpaying workers. We appeal to other employers to learn from this ruling and avoid finding themselves in a similar situation. We wish that such judgments could find expression in our criminal justice system because they are tantamount to fraud.

We want to register our discomfort with the employers’ reaction of referring the matter to the Labour Court for review. While we acknowledge their right to this recourse, we believe that money that will be spent on legal costs could best be utilized in addressing the outcome of the CCMA process. We further hope that Labour court will apply its mind, fairly, and without prejudice to the course of employment relations’ justice. Workers have rights, needs and responsibilities like everyone hence the need for an end to their exploitation.

CONTACT: ZET LUZIPO (PROVINCIAL SECRETARY)

CELL: 072 884 3456