More than 300,000 businesses were inspected during the 2025/26 financial year, with Deputy Labour Minister Jomo Sibiya warning that non-compliance with labour laws remains widespread across South Africa.
Deputy Labour Minister Jomo Sibiya says employers who repeatedly hire undocumented foreign nationals could face fines of up to R1 million per worker under proposed changes to South Africa’s employment laws.
In an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Sibiya said the proposed amendments to the Employment Services Act would introduce tougher penalties for employers who hire undocumented foreign nationals.
He said the proposed fines would increase from R100,000 for a first offence to R200,000 for a second offence and up to R1 million for a third offence.
Sibiya said the changes were being pursued as the Department of Employment and Labour intensified inspections amid what he described as widespread non-compliance with labour laws.
