President Ramaphosa’s initiative will strengthen worker protections, ensuring safer, fairer conditions for over 16 million employees across the country. Picture Credit: Polity.org.za
By Aisha Zardad
South Africa – In a historic move not seen since 1994, the Department of Employment and Labour is set to dramatically expand its workforce with 10,000 new labour inspectors, a decisive step aimed at protecting workers and improving compliance with labour laws across South Africa.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the initiative during the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA), signalling the government’s commitment to safer and fairer workplaces. The president confirmed that the additional inspectors would be hired this year, strengthening enforcement capacity and ensuring workers’ rights are upheld.
Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Jomo Sibiya praised the announcement, calling it a “groundbreaking initiative since 1994.” He explained the scale of the impact: “The additional capacity will assist in improving 300,000 workplace visits annually to about 1.6 million inspections, President. This is how far your intervention is going to go. Over 16.8 million people in the country will have their work environments and employment conditions improved.”
Sibiya also highlighted the financial benefits to workers, saying the department currently recovers over R70 million annually from penalties, fines, underpayments, and failures to register workers for social protection.
“Annually, currently, the department is able to return over R70 million directly to exploited workers back to their pockets from recovered illegal deductions and underpayment. We are, therefore, working hard to ensure that the 10,000 inspectors are on the ground without delay, as it will increase the department’s reach from the current 2,300 inspectors to 10,000 inspectors, which will make 12,300 inspectors,” he said.
The Public Servants Association (PSA) welcomed the expansion, calling it a crucial step in strengthening labour law enforcement. PSA General Manager Reuben Maleka said: “The appointment of a significantly expanded inspectorate is therefore a critical intervention toward protecting workers against exploitation, unsafe workplaces, and non-compliance with statutory benefits. The country has seen a rise in employers’ non-compliance with labour laws, including widespread failure to pay pension contributions and allegations of illegal employment, particularly in vulnerable sectors.”
Maleka added that the new inspectors will allow for proactive inspections in high-risk sectors and rapid responses to reported violations: “This measure will enhance proactive inspections in high-risk sectors and will strengthen rapid response to reported violations. This will ensure that employers who disregard labour legislation are held accountable. The PSA is confident that this decision will contribute to reducing workplace accidents, curbing unlawful labour practices, and improving overall workplace stability.”
The department emphasised that the 10,000 new inspectors are permanent appointments and are entirely distinct from Project 20K, a 2025 internship programme recruiting 20,000 inspector and enforcement interns over two years. Project 20K provides youth with work experience and departmental support, but does not offer permanent employment.
The unprecedented expansion increases the inspectorate from 2,300 to 12,300 officials, enabling a massive improvement in enforcement of labour laws, from ensuring safe working conditions to recovering unpaid wages and penalties. It also reinforces the government’s commitment to accountability and worker protection across the nation.
