South Africa moves to regulate foreign workers as new labour bill heads to parliament

Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth has moved to tighten control over the employment of foreign nationals

Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth has moved to tighten control over the employment of foreign nationals in South Africa through proposed amendments to the Employment Services Act.

The draft Employment Services Amendment Bill, which has been gazetted for introduction in Parliament, will allow the minister to set quotas for the employment of foreign workers in specific sectors, occupations and geographical areas.

The move comes amid escalating protests and growing political pressure over the employment of foreign nationals in parts of the country, with some groups accusing businesses of overlooking South African job seekers.

The proposed changes also come as South Africa continues to battle a deep unemployment crisis. According to Stats SA’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey, the country’s unemployment rate rose to 32.7% in the first quarter of 2026 after the economy shed 345,000 jobs.