Ocean Basket Menlyn ‘has a right to appeal’, says Labour in fishy unpaid wages saga

The Department of Employment and Labour has instructed Ocean Basket to follow the proper channels if they wish to dispute the finding by inspectors, which stated that the restaurant owed over R800,000 in unpaid wages to its staff. The restaurant has been informed that they can appeal the decision internally.

Ocean Basket has denied owing any money to their staff, as reported by the Department. The restaurant stated that they conducted their own independent investigation and found no evidence to support the claims of unpaid wages.

In response to inquiries about Ocean Basket's situation, Labour Department spokesperson Teboho Thejane explained that the inspectorate does not respond to media queries about notices issued to employers. He emphasized that there is a formal process for employers to follow if they are dissatisfied with a notice, and advised that Ocean Basket should adhere to this process.

Thejane clarified that during inspections, inspectors have the right to access the workplace, introduce themselves, and explain the purpose of their visit to management. Ocean Basket CEO Grace Harding noted that they only learned about the alleged unpaid wages through a media statement and had not received any direct communication or documentation from the Department of Labour detailing the findings or the figures.

Thejane added that inspectors engage with workplace management, provide information about the issued notices, and allow management to ask questions before signing off. Employers have the right to appeal through a formal process if they disagree with the notices.

This scrutiny follows a recent joint operation at Babel restaurant in Menlyn, where issues related to worker exploitation were exposed by Mihlali Nobavu on TikTok. Nobavu highlighted poor working conditions, including lack of basic wages and contracts. Babel restaurant has committed to addressing these issues following intervention from the Economic Freedom Fighters.

The situation at Ocean Basket Menlyn also drew attention when an undocumented delivery driver, arrested during the Babel raid, was found at Ocean Basket. This indicates that government departments are thoroughly investigating establishments in the hospitality sector, regardless of initial targeting.

What are your thoughts on the Department of Labour’s approach to handling disputes over unpaid wages? How effective do you think the formal appeal process is for employers like Ocean Basket, and what impact might recent scrutiny of the hospitality sector have on similar establishments?