Yet another breach of labour rights of female textile workers identified

The State Labour Inspectorate has yet again identified breach of labour rights of female textile workers at a clothing manufacturer in Kriva Palanka. Following information received on a case of breach of workers’ rights regarding payment of salaries and employment benefits for health, pension and disability insurance for January 2017 for the employees at a clothing manufacturer in Kriva Palanka, the Helsinki Committee submitted a request for additional supervision by the State Labour Inspectorate.

On grounds of this request, the State Labour Inspectorate – Regional Unit KrivaPalankaperformed a non-scheduled inspection oversight exercise at a shoe factory on 09/03/2017. It was identified that the employer paid the workers’ salaries and contributions for social security insurance for December 2016, but failed to do so for January 2017.

According to the Law on Labour Relations, employers have an obligation to pay workers’ salaries and contributions to salaries for periods not longer than a month. Salaries should be paid within 15 days the latest, following the expiration of the payment period. According to the Law on Labour Relations, employers have an obligation to pay workers net salaries and contributions for pension and disability insurance.

On grounds of the identified actual situation as concluded from the supervision, the authorized inspector ordered the employer and its person responsible to fix this irregularity and pay the workers their salaries and contributions for January 2017 within 8 days from the conclusion of the supervision.

Having obtained information that this clothing manufacturer had failed to pay its workers’ salaries and contributions for January 2017 following the expiration of the given deadline, the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights urges the State Labour Inspectorate to proceed according to its legal authorities and to initiate a request for infringement procedure against the manufacturer.