Focus On Job Creation, Worker Protection In First 100 Days Of Office: Minister Meth

Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth said that her first 100 days in office are not an "endpoint" but the start of many initiatives to better serve clients and the country.

Speaking at the Cape Town Labour Centre, where she discussed her first 100 days in office after the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Meth said her department is focused on creating jobs and protecting vulnerable workers.

"We are seized with the mammoth task of changing the trajectory of our economy into one that resonates with the resolve of the GNU to nudge actions that will advance the three priorities," she said, SA News reported.

Meth mentioned that these initiatives include promoting inclusive economic growth and job creation, reducing poverty, addressing the high cost of living, and building a capable, ethical and developmental government.

The minister noted that the department started strong, with the Deputy Ministers familiarizing themselves with the department and enhancing cooperation with organized labor, businesses, social partners and civil society.

The leaders have also been involved in parliamentary processes to ensure accountability to the Portfolio Committee, Cabinet, and Cluster Committee meetings.

The past three months have also focused on the department's Strategic Plan for 2025-2030, which outlines the strategic priorities and principles of the GNU.

Meth emphasized the importance of inspection and enforcement in protecting workers' rights, making sure labor laws are followed. The minister said that the department has carried out more successful inspections, resulting in 81 arrests of employers and undocumented immigrants.

These high-impact inspections and compliance raids focused on the hospitality, road and freight, textile, car manufacturing, and farming sectors, which often have a high rate of non-compliance with labor laws.

"During these inspections, we addressed non-standard employment practices that render workers vulnerable. We contributed to job preservation by ensuring that employed individuals enjoy the protection of their rights, which in turn enhances productivity and economic growth," Meth added.

She announced that 17,662 national inspections were carried out during this time. Out of those inspections, 12,195 workplaces were found to be compliant while 5,494 workplaces did not meet the standards, leading to enforcement notices being issued.