WORKERS CAN REFUSE TO DO WORK THAT HARMS THE ENVIRONMENT

You work for a doctor and your work includes cleaning up and throwing away waste. The doctor always tells you to throw the medical waste in a nearby rubbish dump. You feel this is wrong and one day you tell the doctor why you think it is wrong and that you will not continue throwing this waste in the dump. The doctor threatens to dismiss you for failing to do your job.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Tell the doctor that the NEMA states you cannot be dismissed for refusing to do an action that is against the law and the environment.

REPORTING ACTIVITIES THAT HARM THE ENVIRONMENT

You work for a company that grows vegetables. One of your employers is secretly using a banned pesticide on one of the farms to grow more vegetables.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

You may disclose this information to various persons including a committee of parliament or a provincial legislature, the Public Protector, or the South African Human Rights Commission. NEMA helps to protect you against being victimised for blowing the whistle on your employer, provided that you comply with the provisions of NEMA.