Actor Vatiswa Ndara has expressed happiness after the department of labour published a notice granting workers in the film and television industry more rights.Prominent actor Vatiswa Ndara has described a new notice that will see workers in the film and television industry for the first time in the country's history getting paid leave as a"great Christmas present".
Labour minister Thulas Nxesi 12 days ago published the notice titled"Intention to Deem Persons in the Film and Television Industry as Employees for Purposes of Some Parts of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and Labour Relations Act". The notice, which gives members of the public 60 days to make submissions, also aims to see crew members and actors start enjoying rights currently the norm for other workers such as sick leave, maternity leave, severance pay, proof of incapacity and compensation claims for occupational accidents or diseases."When we speak of breakthroughs we are talking of such actions as this one taken by minister Nxesi.
"It is definitely a sign of hope for those in the sector and I do think it is finally clear to government that something is amiss with the way things are done in the industry," she said in a WhatsApp text to Sowetan. Ndara in October hogged headlines when she penned a six-page open letter to sports, arts and culture minister Nathi Mthethwa, complaining that the government was doing nothing to protect workers' rights.