In a strategic partnership and advocacy to advance social justice, promote decent work the Department of Employment and Labour’s Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) branch is hosting an Advocacy Session for the Chinese Business Community in Gauteng.
The objectives of the Advocacy Session are to raise awareness about compliance with employment and labour legislation as well as immigration legislation.
Some of the issues experienced by workers in the employ of Chinese Businesses are, but not limited to:
- Low wages and non-compliance with the National Minimum Wage;
- Absence of written contracts and unfair dismissals;
- Long working hours without overtime pay;
- Lack of paid sick leave and annual leave;
- Poor working and sanitation facilities;
- Lack of protective equipment and health and safety measures;
- Workplace injuries with no access to compensation;
- Unemployment Insurance benefits;
- Exploitation of foreign nationals and undocumented workers;
- Sexual harassment and gender-based violence; and
- Victimization of workers who report violations.
The Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Jomo Sibiya, as well as the Ambassador of the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China in South Africa, His Excellency Wu Peng have develop a partnership to co-operate with each other to ensure that South Africa’s employment and labour laws are complied with, which will result in benefits both for Chinese businesses as well as for South African workers.
Sibiya and Wu Peng will deliver speeches during the advocacy.
The expected outcomes of the Chinese Business Advocacy Session are:
- Increased awareness and understanding of employment and labour legislation;
- Formalisation of unregistered workers into Unemployment and Insurance Fund and Compensation Fund systems;
- Stronger multi-departmental coordination for compliance with South African Laws;
- Immediate response to worker grievances and labour complaints;
- Strengthened trust in government institutions;
- Improved compliance rates among Chinese Business Employers; and
- Nonemployment of undocumented labour migrants.
Media is invited to attend the advocacy session which will be held as follows:
Venue: Premier Hotel OR Tambo in Kempton Park
Date: 20 November 2026
Time: 09:00-13:00
For media inquiries, please contact:
Teboho Thejane Departmental Spokesperson
082 697 0694/ teboho.thejane@labour.gov.za
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