Workplaces with over 500 workers must submit these plans to the Department of Employment and Labour and to their internal health and safety committee.

Culture of noncompliance and a lack of enforcement

Data from the labour department's inspectorate shows that just over a third of the employers it has inspected since the beginning of the lockdown have not been compliant with occupational health and safety measures designed to protect workers.

Last year, the department reported to the employment and labour parliamentary portfolio committee that, on average, over a third (37%) of the employers inspected had not been compliant with the occupational health and safety act.

Similar levels of noncompliance with basic labour law are also seen in the high percentage of employers that have failed to register their workers for the Unemployment Insurance Fund.

The department's own inspections demonstrate that a significant section of employers are not voluntarily ensuring adequate health and safety precautions in the workplace.