Government Intensifies Immigration and Labour Law Enforcement

Posted 25 June 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Labour & Employment

Brought to you by SAnews: The Cabinet has adopted a comprehensive migration management strategy designed to tighten border control, modernise identity systems, and escalate enforcement of the Immigration Act, No. 13 of 2002 and the Employment Services Act, No. 4 of 2014.

In terms of the comprehensive migration management approach adopted by Cabinet on 3 June 2026, the government is implementing a multi-pillared strategy to address regulatory gaps, workplace compliance, and administrative backlogs. Key legislative and policy instruments driving this strategy include the revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection, the National Labour Migration Policy, and the pending Employment Services Amendment Bill.

Under the first pillar of the strategy, the Department of Employment and Labour will significantly increase compliance monitoring at workplaces. This includes a phased recruitment of up to 10,000 labour inspectors to conduct inspections and enforce stricter penalties against employers who breach the Immigration Act, No. 13 of 2002. Furthermore, dedicated immigration courts are being established to expedite the prosecution, identification, and deportation of undocumented foreign nationals.

The strategy also introduces major administrative and infrastructural reforms:

  • Intelligent Population Register: The Department of Home Affairs is establishing a biometric-enabled register underpinned by a digital ID, which will systematically phase out the legacy green barcoded ID books to mitigate identity theft.
  • Electronic Travel Authorisation: The electronic travel authorisation system will be expanded across all airports and major land ports of entry.
  • Port of Entry Redevelopment: Six of the country’s busiest ports of entry will undergo infrastructure upgrades, and refugee reception centres will be relocated closer to border posts.

The pending Employment Services Amendment Bill is set to introduce strict quotas for the employment of foreign nationals in specific sectors. To address administrative backlogs within the asylum system, the Refugee Appeal Authority has recruited additional advocates as adjudicators, supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: No direct individual compliance obligations, though professionals should prepare to transition from green barcoded ID books to the new biometric digital ID system as the phase-out accelerates.
  • For your business: Employers must conduct immediate internal audits of employee records to ensure strict compliance with the Immigration Act, No. 13 of 2002, as the phased deployment of 10,000 labour inspectors and increased statutory penalties pose significant non-compliance risks.
  • For your clients: Corporate clients employing foreign nationals must monitor the progress of the Employment Services Amendment Bill to align their hiring strategies with upcoming sectoral foreign labour quotas.

Originally published at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/government-intensifies-immigration-crackdown-strengthens-borders

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