OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY
 
Occupational Health & Safety inspectors are increasingly checking to see whether business owners are complying with the many regulations specified in the Occupational Health & Safety Act.
 
These regulations include:

• Having a qualified first aider on site if you have more than ten employees;
• Making sure you have a written, visible safety plan in the place of employment;
• Making sure your staff undergo safety training;
• Making sure your staff wear safety equipment appropriate to the job.

Most businesses are not complying and all businesses (including businesses that work on a subcontract basis) are required to do so by law.
 
Irrespective of the nature of the business, SEESA offers comprehensive products to help employers comply with all aspects of the Occupational Health & Safety Act, and to represent clients in the event of an accident or claim.
 
All SEESA Labour clients qualify for assessment and 24-hour advice and assistance from SEESA¹s Occupational Health & Safety team, at no extra charge. Should a client need to train employees, SEESA offers a basic and advanced SETA-accredited Health & Safety course at a highly affordable once off rate.
 
SEESA also offers a highly affordable extended Occupational Health & Safety plan to all SEESA Labour clients requiring services over and above the basic complimentary assistance accompanying the Labour package.
 
SEESA¹s extended plan includes the following critical services:

• Compiling a comprehensive risk assessment and safety plan for the client
• Compiling safe working procedures for the client, specific to their business, and conducting noise level tests where necessary.

The extended plan also includes as many visits by SEESAs Occupational Health & Safety advisers as the client¹s business requires.
 
 
UIF and WORKMAN¹S COMPENSATION
 
UIF and Workman¹s Compensation are obligatory payments set by the Department of Labour and all businesses are obliged to register their employees.
 
All SEESA Labour clients are offered SEESA¹s unique, highly affordable Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and Workman¹s Compensation (COIDA) package, in addition to their Labour package.
 
SEESA¹s UIF package includes:

• The registration of all employees for UIF;
• The calculation of UIF contributions;
• Notifying employers about their monthly UIF payments;
• Handling of all UIF enquiries for the employer.

The UIF contribution is 1% of the employee¹s monthly earnings, overtime included. The employer pays 1% and the employee pays 1%. Employers are liable to back pay the whole amount if they have failed to pay their contributions for a year or more. Once they have registered the 1% applies.
 
Workman¹s Compensation is worked out on a yearly fee, depending on the nature of the business, ranging from a farmer paying 1.89% - 3.3% for each R100 of the employee¹s declared annual earnings, to a business owner of a dynamite factory paying 8.26% for each R100 of the employee¹s declared annual earnings. The percentage paid is set by the state and increased at the state¹s discretion.
 
The rules governing Workman¹s Compensation stipulate that there must be a place, time and personal injury while on duty or a directly work-related disease for employers to qualify for a claim. All visits to the doctor relating to the above must be reported to the Workman¹s Compensation Commissioners within seven days of the incident.
 
If a claim proves successful, reasonable medical bills are paid. In the case of permanent disability the employee will get a disability payout. In the case of the death of an employee, the dependents will get a monthly pension. If the employee is booked off for a period of up to three months, and Workman¹s Compensation Commissioner accepts liability on a claim, then the employer pays 75% of the employee¹s earnings for this period, and claims it back from Workman¹s Compensation. If the employee is booked off for longer than three months, the employee claims 75% of his earnings directly from the Workman¹s Compensation commissioner.
 
SEESA¹s Workman¹s Compensation package includes:

• The calculation of Workman¹s Compensation contributions;
• The registration of all employees for UIF and Workman¹s Compensation;
• Reporting all injury on duty claims to the Workman¹s Compensation commissioner;
• Follow up of claims on behalf of the employer until they are finalised or paid out;
• Compiling a letter of good standing for clients on request. Such requests are predominantly from the public sector.
• Resolving of irregularities in all Workman¹s Compensation submissions and checking of assessments.

³We deal firmly and fairly with employees and unions and we do not tolerate threats. We guarantee our services and will foot the bill if any of our clients, who followed our advice, have a cost awarded against them in the CCMA,² ­ SEESA Managing Director, Marius Vosloo.
 
OVER 120 000 LABOUR DISPUTES ARE BROUGHT BEFORE THE CCMA EACH YEAR
 
³SEESA¹s professional, legal support releases our clients from the time-consuming, complex and unavoidable challenge of Labour issues in all business,² ­ SEESA Director, Ursula Botha.
 
Most businesses are not complying with the many regulations specified in the Occupational Health & Safety Act, and all businesses (including businesses that work on a subcontract basis) are required to do so by law.
 
Irrespective of the nature of the business, SEESA offers comprehensive products to help employers comply with all aspects of the Occupational Health & Safety Act, and to represent clients in the event of an accident or claim.