The government’s decision to appoint 10,000 additional labour inspectors has been welcomed by labour organisations, which say stronger oversight is essential to protect workers and enforce compliance with labour laws. The expansion aims to improve workplace safety and strengthen enforcement across sectors where violations remain a concern.
Public Servants Association (PSA) spokesperson Claude Naicker said the move follows years of understaffing that weakened the inspection function. He noted that vacancies created by retirements and other departures were not filled quickly enough, contributing to reduced monitoring capacity.
“I think some might say it’s an astronomical number of inspectors, but over the past decade there have been serious shortages,” Naicker said. “When inspectors left through natural attrition, vacancies were not filled fast enough. As a result, the system gradually eroded.”
He emphasised that the rollout would take time, as funding, recruitment and training must be completed before inspectors can operate at full capacity. “There has to be a phased-in process. You have to train these inspectors so they can operate at full capacity to conduct inspections and enforcement,” he said, describing the initiative as “a step in the right direction.”
Naicker added that inspection services remain critical in both the public and private sectors, including healthcare, hospitality, mining and small businesses, where non-compliance with safety and labour regulations has led to injuries and unsafe working conditions. “There’s not enough inspection, there’s not enough enforcement,” he said, highlighting the need for greater oversight in informal and township economies, including spaza shops.
While welcoming the announcement, he cautioned that its success would depend on effective implementation. “It has come at the right time, perhaps a little late, but it’s progress. Let’s hope they get up to speed quickly so the laws can be properly enforced.”
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