Stephen Groots talks to Tony Healy, labor consultant at Icon Labor Consultants, about President Cyril Ramaphosa's plan to hire 10,000 additional labor inspectors in South Africa.
Listen to the interview in the audio player below.
President Cyril Ramaphosa's proposal to dramatically increase the number of labor inspectors in South Africa could cost the government nearly R10 billion over the next three years, according to new information released to Parliament.
The figures were provided by Employment and Labor Minister Nomakhosazana Methe in a written reply to a parliamentary question by Andile Nchabeleng of the UMkhonto weSizwe party.
The plan, first announced during an address to the nation in February, will see 10,000 additional labor inspectors hired to help enforce labor laws across the country.
Currently only 2%-5% of workplaces are inspected, the expansion aims to address long-standing enforcement shortcomings.
According to the Department of Employment and Labour, the current inspection system only reaches a very small portion of workplaces.
Data collected by the department over almost 20 years shows that only 2% to 5% of workplaces in South Africa have been inspected or reached through enforcement and education programs.
And with South Africa's large labor market, the department says it is difficult for inspectors to monitor working conditions and ensure that companies follow labor laws.
Speaking to Stephen Groots on The Money Show, Tony Healy, labor consultant at Icon Labor Consultants, says the government seems to be focused on solving this.
“What we are seeing now is a very significant step forward whereby the number of inspectors is being increased by more than five times, as is budgeted for. And this will take the number of annual workplace inspections from about 300,000 to about 1,6 million.”
– Tony Healy, Labor Consultant – Icon Labor Consultants
“It will take some time for these inspectors to be trained on the different parts of the law. The whole thing of employment of foreign nationals is a big focus. Paying the minimum wage is a big focus, and health and safety issues are a big focus.”
– Tony Healy, Labor Consultant – Icon Labor Consultants
“The intention is, as we have seen in many areas of law, what is the point of making laws if there is no compliance? No doubt, this is an important step, and it is certainly going to enhance monitoring and enforcement of compliance in the area of labor law…”
– Tony Healy, Labor Consultant – Icon Labor Consultants
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