'A blitz is never effective’: Expert questions impact of labour inspections

South African authorities are ramping up multidisciplinary inspections to tackle labour exploitation and ensure legal compliance, but a labour expert is questioning their long-term effectiveness. These high-impact blitz inspections, coordinated by the Department of Employment and Labour, have led to the detention of workers working without valid permits, including 25 Lesotho nationals and two Chinese nationals.

The inspectors found that three Chinese employers had violated immigration legislation. Labour lawyer Michael Bagraim expressed concerns about the limited number of inspectors, stating that their efforts are "a drop in the ocean" when there are over a million businesses in South Africa. Bagraim highlighted that the inspectors lack proper resources and training, which hampers their ability to effectively enforce compliance.

He emphasized that the blitz approach is ineffective, as businesses often hide or expel workers upon detection. Bagraim argues that educating workers and trade unions, who can then report non-compliant employers, is a more effective strategy. The Department of Employment and Labour is also set to introduce the Employment Services Amendment Bill, which aims to strengthen labour migration management, prioritize employment opportunities for South Africans, and enhance compliance with labour and immigration laws.