Domestic workers want law on workplace injuries enacted

Concerns have been raised about domestic workers’ ability to report injuries at work after regulations were introduced for their protection. Domestic workers were brought under the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (Coida) in 2023, extending protection to those employed in private households. However, labour experts and unions have told Sowetan that many of the workers still struggled to raise alarm, particularly those in isolated areas, where oversight is limited.

Gloria Kente, secretary-general of the SA Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union (Sadsawu), said they were still struggling with the implementation of the Coida. “We’re pushing the department of [employment and] labour to do the inspections to make sure employers are paying into the Coida fund so that when the workers get injured, they can claim the money,” she said. “We’ve been fighting this for a long time.

That is why we are marching over the weekend because we’re not being heard.” We’re pushing the department of labour to do the inspections to make sure employers are paying into the Coida fund so that when the workers get injured, they can claim the money – Gloria Kente, secretary-general of the SA Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union Kente said they will be visiting labour department offices in Cape Town and Pietermaritzburg to hand over their memorandum regarding the matter. “There’s no compliance; there’s no implementation,” she said. Her comments come after the National Employers’ Association of SA (Neasa) urged businesses to review their workforce to ensure all employees who are now covered by Coida are properly accounted for.

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It also advised that all employees be properly included in return-of-earnings submissions. Under the new regulations, employees who are injured or fall ill as a result of working conditions will receive stronger support in efforts to get them to return to work, and employers will also have more responsibility with regard to providing rehabilitation.

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