Households and businesses in South Africa that employ foreign workers are being warned that labour inspectors and multidisciplinary task teams are conducting o...
Households and businesses in South Africa that employ foreign workers are being warned that labour inspectors and multidisciplinary task teams are conducting ongoing surprise inspections across the country, including visits to homes employing domestic workers.
The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) is increasing its enforcement efforts as government moves to address labour exploitation, occupational safety violations and the employment of undocumented foreign nationals. Inspection visits are being carried out without prior notice.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced during the State of the Nation Address on 12 February 2026 that the department would recruit 10,000 additional permanent labour inspectors. He later expanded on the initiative during a national address on 7 June 2026.
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According to government, the additional inspectors will help strengthen compliance with labour laws and support efforts aimed at curbing illegal migration and workplace exploitation. The initiative forms part of a broader labour enforcement programme already under way.
Speaking in an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Deputy Director General at the Department of Employment and Labour, Sam Morotoba, said multidisciplinary task teams are already operating across the country.
“Inspections and multidisciplinary task teams have got plans. You have seen recently they surface everywhere, anytime, unannounced,” Morotoba said.
He said employers should focus on ensuring they comply with labour laws rather than worrying about when inspections might happen. When asked whether households should expect surprise visits, Morotoba responded: “Yes, the multidisciplinary task teams are conducting raids everywhere.”
The comments come as the department proposes amendments to labour legislation that would introduce tougher penalties for employers who hire undocumented foreign nationals. Under the proposal, a first offence could result in a fine of R100,000 for each undocumented worker employed.
“The first fine is R100,000 for the first offence. But it escalates to the second offence and then the third offence, where we would normally look at even the percentage in terms of the employer’s profits,” Morotoba said.
Morotoba acknowledged that there has been significant debate over whether the same penalties should apply to large companies and private individuals who employ domestic workers or gardeners. He said discussions on the issue were intense during deliberations at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac).
“This was a very, very heated debate at Nedlac when we were debating this bill. And I’m sure it is going to be the same when the parliamentarians put the bill through the process,” he said.
He noted that a large fine may affect employers differently depending on their size and income. According to Morotoba, a major company may be able to absorb the cost, while the same amount could have a much greater impact on an individual employer.
“For a big company, this is nothing. They can simply budget like they are doing now and pay off that fine. But for an individual, that amount is huge,” he said.
Morotoba said the department recognises the differences between businesses and private households and has left the matter to Parliament to decide. “We are leaving this to our parliamentarians to assist us because companies and individuals are not the same. Their incomes are not the same,” he said.
For households employing foreign domestic workers, Morotoba advised employers to keep all required documentation on file. These documents include a valid passport and the appropriate work authorisation.
He said workers who do not possess a work permit may still have other legal documents that allow them to work in South Africa. These may include special permits, permanent residence documents, refugee papers, asylum documents or other lawful immigration status.
Morotoba stressed that the proposed amendments have not yet become law and are still being considered. Until Parliament completes the legislative process, the changes remain proposals and have not been enacted.
