The Department of Employment and Labour says it is facing widespread non-compliance from companies that continuously break the law by employing undocumented workers. The department says it is now ready to roll out the next phase of recruiting thousands of new labour inspectors. Over the weekend, President Cyril Ramaphosa warned businesses against employing undocumented foreign nationals. To combat this, Deputy Minister Ntuthuko Sibiya says the department is pinning its hopes on the phased recruitment of 10 000 labour inspectors. “What is happening currently is that
we’ve got employers who are budgeting, not to comply, who say, because our fines are not as harsh as we want them to be, then they’re ready to budget a million. If today we’re going to fine him R200 000, the following month we are going to fine them R100 000 and then he knows in a year you can pay this R100 000 and then he employs illegal immigrants. That’s how far they want to go. That’s how bad things are on the ground.
They don’t want to register them with UIF with Compensation Fund because they are illegal. They don’t have documents. So, it means they are saving money for themselves. They want to maximise profits.” Government to intensify efforts to curb illegal immigration
Department of Employment and Labour, labour inspectors, undocumented workers, President Cyril Ramaphosa, Ntuthuko Sibiya, UIF, Compensation Fund, labour law enforcement, illegal immigration, fines