Human rights violated at KZN factories

Human rights are being violated in many clothing and textile factories in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, a trade union survey has found.

Workers were not supplied with toilet paper and being forced to use pieces of fabric, SA Clothing and Textile Workers' Union (Sactwu) secretary Chris Gina said in Johannesburg on Monday.

"Workers are expected to place these fabric off-cuts in bags or boxes next to the toilet... which are often only removed once a week, resulting in filthy, smelly, and unhygienic conditions," he said in a statement.

"At almost all companies that we surveyed workers are not supplied with toilet paper."

It was not clear how many factories were part of the survey.

At factories where toilet paper was supplied, workers were expected to pay for it, said Gina. Employers deducted this from weekly wages.

At some factories, workers did not have toilets and were expected to use buckets.

"Where workers have the use of toilets, it is often totally inadequate."

Gina said this was unacceptable.

"We call on government to continue its crackdown on illegal employment practices and human rights abuses in the clothing industry.

"We also place on record that we are aware of threats to the safety of some Sactwu officials in reprisal for our fight for human rights and dignity."

The labour department said it inspected 12 factories in Newcastle last week, and found gross violations. This followed a series of complaints from Sactwu.

Some contraventions included emergency exits not being demarcated, no electrical certificates available for electrical installations, and no soap or toilet paper in toilets, department spokesman Page Boikanyo said in a statement.

In one factory, it found one toilet being shared by almost 60 men and women.

"The initiative... has revealed gross violations with the basic conditions of employment, health and safety measures, as well as employment equity standards," Boikanyo said.

Inspectors found that some factories did not have fire-fighting equipment, no first aid, and inadequate medical supplies.

"Employers were also found to be on the wrong side of the law when it came to making declarations and paying contributions to the Unemployment Insurance Fund."

At least 46 foreign workers without legal work permits were arrested.

The ongoing inspection campaign with the home affairs department, police and the clothing and textile sector bargaining council was intended to stamp out non-compliance in the industry.