Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, has raised concerns about South Africa’s alarming unemployment rate, which currently stands at 33.5%.
This stark statistic is compounded by the manipulation of labour practices, where some employers favour hiring undocumented immigrants, raising serious ethical and legal questions.
“We remain deeply concerned about the high unemployment rate among South Africans, particularly affecting our youth,” Meth stated, addressing a myriad of challenges plaguing the labour sector on Tuesday.
In a country grappling with a staggering 33.5% unemployment rate, Meth’s announcement of a comprehensive strategy to tackle labour violations and support fairness in employment practices hopes to pave the way for a more equitable future.
Her remarks painted a bleak picture of the current job landscape, pointing to the pressing need for urgent intervention.
Meth’s remarks come amid widespread concerns over the potential exploitation of the vulnerable labour market, particularly undocumented workers who often lack legal protection.
“Our administration is committed to addressing these challenges comprehensively and humanely,” the minister asserted, affirming the government’s dedication to working closely with the Department of Home Affairs to enforce compliance with immigration laws.
In a bid to tackle this crisis, Meth announced an ambitious plan to bolster enforcement across the nation’s workplaces.
The Department of Employment and Labour intends to dramatically increase the number of labour inspectors from 2 000 to 20 000 over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period.
This significant expansion aims to enhance the government’s ability to conduct thorough audits and inspections, effectively combating non-compliance and illegal labour practices.
“Since assuming office in July, we have intensified our efforts to ensure adherence to labour laws across all nine provinces of the country through high-impact blitz inspections and site visits, alongside on-the-spot fines for violators,” she said.
Recent inspections have already revealed troubling patterns, particularly in key sectors and regions. The Western Cape led with the highest number of inspections at 809, followed closely by Gauteng with 764 and KwaZulu-Natal with 535 inspections.
The minister emphasised the necessity for a strategic approach to these inspections, introducing a ‘Risk-Based Profiling’ method to maximise their effectiveness.
“This approach will allow us to prioritise audits and inspections based on identified risks, thereby improving our capacity to address high-priority non-compliance areas more efficiently,” she explained.
Additionally, Meth detailed plans for a specialised, segment-focused compliance framework, highlighting the government’s integrated and risk-based enforcement strategy.
“Our aim is to address compliance issues at the workplace in a holistic manner, ensuring that all regulatory requirements are met,” she concluded, stressing that ensuring fair treatment for workers — regardless of their immigration status — is a priority.
The Star