COSATU applauds government’s bold and progressive commitment to massively increase the number or labour inspectors

1 October 2024

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) applauds government’s bold and progressive commitment to massively increase the number of labour inspectors from the current 2 000 to 20 000 over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework.  The announcement by Minister for Employment and Labour, Ms. Nomakhosazana Meth, of government’s intention to rapidly boost the number of labour inspectors will have a decisive impact upon government’s ability to enforce our progressive labour laws.

All too often workers have seen their hard-won labour rights from the National Minimum Wage to overtime pay and paid leave, to unemployment and workplace injuries and diseases’ insurance, to maternity and parental leave amongst so many others; simply ignored and brutally suppressed by inhumane employers.  The recent construction site tragedies in George, eNgcobo and Ballito as well as the fishing accidents of the Cape, are a painful reminder of the dangerous and illegal conditions workers are subjected to by employers daily and at the cost of many.

COSATU is pleased that the Minister and government led by our ally, the African National Congress, have heeded the Federation’s long-standing call for the number of labour inspectors to be drastically increased in order to ensure employers comply with our labour laws. 

This bold and decisive victory will help ensure millions of workers are able to exercise their rights and enjoy the protection of the law.  It will reduce the number of cases overwhelming the CCMA which are stretching its resources to the brink.  It will address workers’ grievances, reduce the numbers of disputes and bolster both labour market stability and productivity and thus also benefit the economy and society at large.

It is critical that Treasury ensure the Department of Employment and Labour is allocated the resources to fill these critical posts in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement and the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework due to be tabled at Parliament on 30 October.

Whilst this moment has taken many years of struggles and engagements by COSATU in the Alliance, Nedlac and Parliament, we are pleased government has now agreed to this historic move to fully capacitate the Department of Employment and Labour’s Inspectorate.  This will see the working conditions and lives of millions of workers improve.

Issued by Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 1 October 2024