Bloemfontein — The Johannesburg Labour Court has instructed the sheriff to attach properties of two Bloemfontein Kwik Spar outlets, for auction to recover over R400 000 in outstanding employee salaries.

The Meditas and Fauna Kwik Spar failed to honour a court order issued in August last year which required them to pay back the outstanding underpayments and interests that were due to its employees.

This follows a recommendation for prosecution by labour inspectors, after the employers failed to comply with the notices issued to them.

The court had ruled that Meditas Kwik Spar must pay back R218 561.21 to its 35 employees plus interest and a 25 percent fine.

Fauna Kwik Spar must pay its 23 employees an outstanding amount of R217 850.21 plus interest and a 25 percent fine.

Labour inspectors found that the retailers were not abiding by the Retail Sectoral Determination's minimum wages as from 2003.

These wage hikes are regulated by the department for the industry.

Sectoral Determination 9 applies to all employers and workers in the wholesale and retail sector, including those associated with merchandising, warehousing or distribution operations.