‘Employment and Labour on arrests for alleged human trafficking and violation of labour laws’ 21 November 2019

Seven ChInese and Taiwanese nationals busted for alleged human trafficking and violation of labour laws remanded in custody The seven Chinese and Taiwanese nationals who were busted last week for operating a factory allegedly involved in the trafficking of illegal immigrants and subjecting them to forced labour appeared today (November 21) in the Johannesburg Magistrates Court.  The four males and three females were arrested on November 12  in a joint operation by the Department of Employment and Labour’s Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) in Gauteng together with the South African Police Services (SAPS), and the Hawks Unit. The arrests followed a tip-off  that the Chinese and Taiwanese nationals were allegedly involved in the trafficking of illegal immigrants and subjecting them to forced labour.

…The Department’s joint operation at the premises of a company called Beautiful City Pty Ltd located at Village Deep in Johannesburg found minor children employed at the factory, and that the employer was violating the suite of labour legislation ranging from National Minimum Wage, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act and Basic Conditions of Employment Act. An audit by the Department found that there were 91 workers employed at the factory during the raid.

…“The employer has not only contravened the Unemployment Insurance Act and Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act, but has further spat in the face of the vulnerable by disregarding Section 27 of the Constitution of Republic of South Africa that guarantees employees the right to social security,” said Advocate Msiza.