South Africa’s labour minister Nomakhosazana Meth has announced a planned amendment to the Employment Services Act, aiming to tighten regulations on foreign employment and support local job creation amid persistent unemployment challenges.
South Africa’s labour minister has moved to tighten rules on the employment of foreign nationals, with a proposed law change aimed at giving the state greater control over hiring in sectors where unemployment remains stubbornly high. Nomakhosazana Meth has gazetted her intention to table the Employment Services Amendment Bill in Parliament, a step that follows Cabinet approval and opens the way for the draft to be considered by lawmakers.
The proposed amendments would alter the Employment Services Act of 2014, which was originally designed to improve public employment services, support young and vulnerable jobseekers, regulate private employment agencies and help facilitate the lawful employment of foreign workers. According to the Department of Employment and Labour, the updated bill is intended to modernise labour-market regulation while giving government a clearer legal basis to manage labour migration.
In remarks delivered on Workers’ Day on 1 May, Meth said the bill ‘aims to modernise the regulation of the labour market’. She also said it is intended to address rising unemployment and what she described as the heavy concentration of foreign nationals in some lower-skilled sectors. The government has argued that the measure would help promote national security and national interests while creating more opportunities for South African citizens.
Under the proposal, the minister would be able to set quotas for foreign workers, potentially by sector, occupation or geographic area, after consultation with the Employment Services Board and public input. The draft also appears designed to curb exploitation in the labour market, including the use of undocumented foreign labour as a source of cheap workers. If passed, the changes would give future ministers the same powers to regulate foreign employment through subordinate rules and sector-specific limits.
Source Reference Map
Inspired by headline at: [1]
Sources by paragraph:
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– Paragraph 2: [2], [3]
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://www.citizen.co.za/business/labour-minister-seeks-to-amend-employment-act-to-regulate-foreign-nationals-working-in-sa/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.gov.za/documents/employment-services-act – The Employment Services Act 4 of 2014 aims to provide public employment services, establish schemes to promote the employment of young work seekers and other vulnerable persons, assist employees in distressed companies to retain employment, facilitate the employment of foreign nationals in a manner consistent with the objects of this Act and the Immigration Act, 2002, provide for the registration and regulation of private employment agencies, establish the Employment Services Board, establish Productivity South Africa, establish Supported Employment Enterprises, provide for transitional provisions, and provide for matters connected therewith.
- https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/employment-services-amendment-bill-approved-submission-parliament – Cabinet has approved the Employment Services Amendment Bill for submission to Parliament. The Bill provides a policy framework and the legal basis to regulate the employment of foreign nationals in businesses while promoting national security and national interests. The Bill aims to modernise the regulation of the labour market, address rising unemployment, and the high representation of foreign nationals in specific, lower-skilled sectors. It has been approved by Cabinet and taken to parliament for further processing.
- https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/employment-services-amendment-bill-approved-submission-parliament – Cabinet has approved the Employment Services Amendment Bill for submission to Parliament. The Bill provides a policy framework and the legal basis to regulate the employment of foreign nationals in businesses while promoting national security and national interests. The Bill aims to modernise the regulation of the labour market, address rising unemployment, and the high representation of foreign nationals in specific, lower-skilled sectors. It has been approved by Cabinet and taken to parliament for further processing.
- https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/employment-services-amendment-bill-approved-submission-parliament – Cabinet has approved the Employment Services Amendment Bill for submission to Parliament. The Bill provides a policy framework and the legal basis to regulate the employment of foreign nationals in businesses while promoting national security and national interests. The Bill aims to modernise the regulation of the labour market, address rising unemployment, and the high representation of foreign nationals in specific, lower-skilled sectors. It has been approved by Cabinet and taken to parliament for further processing.
- https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/employment-services-amendment-bill-approved-submission-parliament – Cabinet has approved the Employment Services Amendment Bill for submission to Parliament. The Bill provides a policy framework and the legal basis to regulate the employment of foreign nationals in businesses while promoting national security and national interests. The Bill aims to modernise the regulation of the labour market, address rising unemployment, and the high representation of foreign nationals in specific, lower-skilled sectors. It has been approved by Cabinet and taken to parliament for further processing.
- https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/employment-services-amendment-bill-approved-submission-parliament – Cabinet has approved the Employment Services Amendment Bill for submission to Parliament. The Bill provides a policy framework and the legal basis to regulate the employment of foreign nationals in businesses while promoting national security and national interests. The Bill aims to modernise the regulation of the labour market, address rising unemployment, and the high representation of foreign nationals in specific, lower-skilled sectors. It has been approved by Cabinet and taken to parliament for further processing.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score: 8
Notes: The article reports on Minister Nomakhosazana Meth’s recent announcement regarding the Employment Services Amendment Bill, which was gazetted on 26 May 2026. This is a fresh development, with no prior reports found in the search results. The earliest known publication date of similar content is 26 May 2026. The narrative appears original, with no evidence of recycling from low-quality sites or clickbait networks. The article is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The article includes updated data and does not recycle older material. Overall, the freshness score is high.
Quotes check
Score: 7
Notes: The article includes direct quotes from Minister Meth’s Workers’ Day speech on 1 May 2026. A search for the earliest known usage of these quotes did not yield matches, indicating they may not have been previously published. However, without independent verification of the quotes, their authenticity cannot be fully confirmed. The wording of the quotes appears consistent across sources. Given the lack of independent verification, the score is moderate.
Source reliability
Score: 6
Notes: The article originates from The Citizen, a South African news outlet. While it is a known publication, it is not a major international news organisation. The article is based on a press release, which is a direct source from the Department of Employment and Labour. This raises concerns about potential bias and lack of independent verification. The source’s reach and influence are limited compared to major news organisations. Given these factors, the reliability score is moderate.
Plausibility check
Score: 8
Notes: The claims made in the article align with known government initiatives and Minister Meth’s previous statements. The proposed amendments to the Employment Services Act are consistent with the government’s focus on regulating the employment of foreign nationals and addressing unemployment. The article provides specific details, including the gazetting date and the bill’s objectives, which are plausible and coherent. No inconsistencies or implausible elements were identified. Overall, the plausibility score is high.