Government Initiates Nationwide Labour and Immigration Inspection Blitzes

Posted 24 July 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Employment & Labour

Brought to you by SAnews: The Department of Employment and Labour, in partnership with the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Police Service (SAPS), has initiated simultaneous nationwide multidisciplinary inspection blitzes across all nine provinces to enforce strict compliance with South African labour and immigration statutes.

The coordinated operations target employer non-compliance across several statutory frameworks, including the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, No. 75 of 1997, the National Minimum Wage Act, No. 9 of 2018, the Immigration Act, No. 13 of 2002, the Unemployment Insurance Act, No. 63 of 2001, the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, No. 130 of 1993, and the Occupational Health and Safety Act, No. 85 of 1993.

Inspectors and enforcement officials are executing unannounced site visits to verify statutory compliance. Primary contraventions identified during initial operations include:

  • Failure to pay the statutory minimum wage prescribed under the National Minimum Wage Act, No. 9 of 2018;
  • Non-payment of overtime rates and excessive working hours in terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, No. 75 of 1997;
  • Failure to register employees or remit statutory contributions under the Unemployment Insurance Act, No. 63 of 2001 and the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, No. 130 of 1993;
  • Failure to provide prescribed personal protective equipment (PPE) as mandated under safety regulations; and
  • Employment of foreign nationals without valid work authorization, in violation of section 38 of the Immigration Act, No. 13 of 2002, which carries potential criminal liability and arrest for company directors.

Government officials confirmed that these multidisciplinary blitzes represent an intensified, continuous joint law enforcement strategy across all provinces, rather than a once-off intervention.

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

  • For yourself: No direct individual obligations; impact is channelled through employer compliance and verification of statutory payroll deductions.
  • For your business: Audit all payroll records, employment contracts, right-to-work documentation, UIF/COIDA registrations, and health and safety protocols immediately to ensure full statutory compliance ahead of unannounced multi-agency inspections.
  • For your clients: Advise employer clients that failure to verify foreign national work permits under the Immigration Act, No. 13 of 2002 or comply with the National Minimum Wage Act, No. 9 of 2018 carries severe regulatory sanctions and direct criminal liability for directors.

Originally published at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/government-launches-first-nationwide-high-impact-blitz-strengthen-compliance-protect

The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Acts Online. Acts Online accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the article, nor does the information contained herein constitute advice, legal or otherwise.