JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- The South African Department of Employment and Labor announced Monday that it will recruit 20,000 inspectors in the next two years to tackle labor infractions, and improve compliance in the sector.

According to the department, this will involve the employment of 10,000 graduates in 2025, with another 10,000 to be added in 2026.

"Young graduates will gain practical on-the-job experience, working closely with inspectors to learn how to conduct inspections, file reports, and follow up on cases. They will travel with senior team leaders who will provide hands-on training," said Thobeka Magcai, the department's spokesperson.

Magcai further said that strengthening the labor inspectorate is crucial for protecting workers and ensuring that labor laws were enforced on the ground. It is also aimed at supporting businesses in meeting their labor obligations.

"We check compliance with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, the National Minimum Wage Act, making sure that employees are remunerated in accordance with the National Minimum Wage Act. We check for occupational health and safety standards that are indeed in place, as well as the compensation for occupational injuries and diseases, the Unemployment Insurance Act, and just basically to promote fairness and protect workers," she told Xinhua by phone.

This announcement came after the department carried out inspectorate raids in 2024 within the hospitality sector, where they discovered multiple violations of labor laws, including the employment of undocumented foreign nationals, minors, and individuals without recognized paperwork.

"What we found is that there has been noncompliance with these labor laws that we've just mentioned, including underpayment of wages, unlawful deductions, and inadequate health and safety measures," she noted.

Magcai added that the sectors identified for high levels of non-compliance include hospitality, retail, road freight, and farming. Enditem

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