17 Oct 2018

Traders have been advised to adhere to laws, policies and regulations governing their businesses at all times.

This was said by a senior council official, Mr Joseph Paladi during the Tlokweng Business Community workshop organised by the Department of Bye Law Enforcement from Tlokweng Sub-district council recently.

Mr Paladi said the aim of the workshop was to educate traders of Tlokweng on various acts and statutes that regulate businesses.

“We called this workshop to disseminate information on various regulations which regulate businesses like licensing requirements to have a business and to orientate them on government policies like procurement,” said Mr Paladi.

He said traders should ensure compliance with regard to licensing processes and to obey relevant statutes.

In her presentation, principal environmental health technician, Ms Nyalalani Ntombe said most of the problems they encountered at traders’ businesses was the issue of misplacing litter.

She said traders had a tendency of submitting paper on contracts of those who picked litter when there were no contracts in place.

Ms Ntombe further indicated that the other problem was that those who operated food outlets did not submit medical exams on time as per the law.

“Another issue is lack of provision of uniform to employees. Some employers do not give their employees uniform especially in food outlets and those dealing with mechanics. The other problem we encountered was dented canned food. Dented and expired foods are not supposed to be on shelves,” she said.

Ms Ntobe advised traders to be knowledgeable on the issues and laws regulating them as non-adherence could result in charges and fines.

For his part, a representative from the labour office, Mr Keresepe Kgotle advised traders to insure their employees to avoid negative consequences.

Mr Kgotle told the traders that the Workers Compensation Act required employers to insure their employees because failure to do so was a crime that attracted fines amounting to P5 000 or imprisonment not exceeding three years or both.

He told the traders that having insurance companies would help their business from being bankrupted since injuries occurring in a workplace could result in large expenses if there was no insurance. ENDS