I RECENTLY had first hand experience of how incompetent the officials of the Department of Labour in Paarl are.
I am 63 years old and retired from employment last year. I am also a new resident to Paarl. What a struggle it was to obtain the Unemployment Funding owed to me by the Department!
The first experience was when they gave me a date of 17 May to sign for the money. I waited with a few other women from 06:00 in the cold and dark (this waiting in line for monies that you have worked for must also be assessed and improved, why must people stand in line like beggars?).
Well, the officials never pitched, no notice was provided on the door of the Huguenot Community Hall to say that the date had changed to 23 May and my daughter had to drive all the way back to Labour’s office in Breda Street to enquire.
The response she got from the official (a woman) who answered her cellphone was also not friendly, although her number is provided in case of emergency.
I then told her that people have to be informed beforehand and a notice should be on the door stating the change of date etc.
The second time around, 15 June, it was the same situation. I had been waiting in line since 06:00 with other women and we see the on the door about “singning” being moved to the “karate hall (boxing hall)”.
Finally someone working at the hall came to say that the venue had changed.
There was no indication for which day the venue change was (I have been informed there are various dates for signing), or where this karate hallto which we were referred ,was located.
It was raining that day and all the people ran to this venue like lost sheep. When we came to the hall there was even more chaos as people tried to push in front of one another.
Is this what Department of Labour Paarl wants for its people - to be ill-treated like they are nothing?
When will the unprofessionalism of those officials be addressed?
May I remind you about Batho Pele or does this not apply to your Department? Judging by the poor spelling in the signage there are high incompetency levels.
MM Arries
The regional manager of the Department of Labour, Aziza Leitch, responds: Supervisors reported that the proof of application clearly indicates that clients should report to the Pay Hall at 08:00.
Municipal workers start working at 7:30 and a special concession was granted by the caretaker, to open the doors at 7:30.
According to the supervisors, this office did not conduct a pay-out on 17 May. The pay-out was scheduled for 18 May (election day) and the pay-out date was changed to 23 May, the only available date that the caretaker at the Community Hall could accommodate the pay-out.
The caretaker changed the venue for the pay-out on 15 June, due to the fact that the Community Hall was in the process of being refurbished.
The sign informing clients of the alternative venue (23 May and 15 June) was designed by employees of the Municipality.
Ms Arries is currently in payment and will receive UIF benefits for about three months.
She is most welcome to contact me if she encounters unacceptable service from officials in this office in future.
