The South African government's proposal to impose fines on employers who hire undocumented migrants has sparked debate about the role of the middle class in contributing to exploitative domestic work practices.
Professor Joe Vere, co-director of the African Center for Migration and Society, said many middle-class families benefit from employing foreign nationals, who are often poorly paid and work in poor conditions.
“It is estimated that there are less than one million domestic workers in South Africa.”
Verei argued that one of the major concerns related to migrant workers is the belief that migrants are taking jobs away from South African citizens, which he said is not supported by data.
“The data do not suggest that foreign nationals are driving or displacing South Africans from the labor market. One reason individuals are willing to accept these exploitative conditions is because they have moved for purposes of improving livelihoods.”
He explained that exemption permit holders from Lesotho and Zimbabwe, who form a significant part of this informal workforce, have the right to work until May 2028 and are protected by labor laws if a contract is in place.
However, many domestic workers have no contracts, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse as they seek better livelihood opportunities.
“We need to recognize that the majority of domestic workers, regardless of nationality, are working without a contract, so there is a huge issue of collusion here with the middle class exploiting the poor, blacks, predominantly women, for their own benefit,” she said.
Vere said the government should focus on regularizing the status of migrant workers and ensuring that employers comply with labor laws.
“Employers of domestic workers who are from other countries should ensure that they are regularized and have the right to work even after the end of the exemption permit system.”