Employment and Labour Deputy Minister, Judith Namadzinga-Tshabalala, said the time has come for government and business to have a serious discussion to address the burgeoning unemployment rate in the country. 

Nemadzinga-Tshabalala said while the public sector was one of the largest employers in the country, government has a duty to create an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and create employment.

“There must be an urgent discussion on how the private sector can come in to create jobs," she said.

The Deputy Minister was delivering a keynote address during a Department of Employment and Labour's Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) branch Annual Employment & Labour Law Indaba 2025 held at Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre. The Indaba, attended by employers, labour, various stakeholders, and academia, was organised to promote social dialogue on labour market transformation.

Nemadzinga-Tshabalala said the use of artificial intelligence (AI) was presenting with it challenges and threats to employment. She said this forces employers to reskill the workforce. 

She said the government was committed to constantly improving issues of regulation of the labour market, including inspection, enforcement, and ensuring compliance. She said that at the heart of regulating the labour market was the enforcement, “this cannot be left to chance". She said that in its execution of its work, the government strives for the promotion of decent employment.

The Deputy Minister emphasised the need for corporate governance and to ensure the protection of workers' monies. She implored employers and workers to ensure in their organisations a culture of adherence to a culture of promoting health and safety.

The two-day event was held under the theme: Labour Market Transformation Through Effective Social Dialogue as a way of encouraging maximum compliance to employment and labour laws.

Commenting on the recent Court challenge of the Employment Equity Amendments Act by the Democratic Alliance, she said the matter was a thorny one that cannot be left unchallenged. She said government needs to protect transformation.

Alexio Musindo – International Labour Organization (ILO) Director for Country Office for Eastern and Southern Africa, whose address focused on the impact of international labour standards (ILS), said these benchmarks (ILS) provide a level playing field for all.

International standards are used as essential benchmarks that ensure safety, quality, and efficiency across various industries globally. They are usually used as one way to overcome technical barriers in international commerce.

Musindo said international labour standards provide an international legal framework to help governments and employers to avoid the temptation of lowering labour standards in the hope that this could give them a greater comparative advantage in international trade. 

“In the long run, such practices do not benefit anyone," he said.

The ILO Director said on the flip side, lowering labour standards can encourage the spread of low-wage, low-skill and high-turnover industries and prevent a country from developing more stable high-skilled employment, while at the same time slowing the economic growth of trade partners.

Musindo said that because international labour standards are minimum standards adopted by governments and the social partners, “it is in everyone's interest to see these rules applied across the board, so that those who do not put them into practice do not undermine the efforts of those who do".

He argued that international labour standards are a means of improving economic performance. He said that international labour standards have sometimes been perceived as being costly and therefore hindering economic development.

“Compliance with international labour standards is often accompanied by improvements in productivity and economic performance. Minimum wage and working-time standards, and respect for equality, can translate into greater satisfaction and improved performance for workers and reduced staff turnover," he said.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Petunia Lessing

Director Media Liaison

066 301 4645/ petunia.lessing@labour.gov.za

-ENDS-

Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour

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