Cape Town – Domestic workers employed at South Africa’s parliamentary villages are set to face inspections after concerns were raised about their working and living conditions, as well as whether they are properly registered and lawfully employed.
The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) said it will conduct inspections at Acacia Park and Pelican Park in Cape Town following concerns raised during an oversight visit in March 2026.
According to BusinessTech, the inspection will establish the number of domestic workers employed at the parliamentary villages and determine whether they are registered for the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and comply with labour laws.
The oversight visit identified problems including poor infrastructure, occupational health and safety concerns, inadequate security and deteriorating living conditions in the domestic workers’ quarters.
The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), which participated in the oversight process, raised concerns about asbestos-contaminated prefabricated housing, sewage problems and what it described as unacceptable conditions for domestic workers.
“The unacceptable conditions endured by domestic workers are not minor administrative shortcomings…they represent failures of the state to protect people living and working on parliamentary premises,” the ACDP said.
No previous inspections
Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth told the committee that the department had not conducted inspections at the parliamentary villages to establish how many domestic workers were employed there or whether they were properly registered.
“There were no inspections conducted in Parliamentary Villages to determine the total number of domestic workers employed and their registration.”
She said the department had developed a plan for a comprehensive inspection and compliance campaign, with the findings to be submitted to the relevant parliamentary committee.
“The department continues to inspect the employers of domestic workers to determine compliance with employment laws,” Meth said.
Proposed penalties
The inspections come as Parliament considers wider changes to South Africa’s labour migration framework.
The proposed Employment Services Amendment Bill seeks to strengthen enforcement of labour and immigration laws governing the employment of foreign nationals. Parliament opened public comment on the Bill on 18 September, with submissions due by 6 November 2026.
The Bill also proposes stronger penalties for employers who employ foreign nationals without the legal right to work, including private households.
IOL reported that the proposed penalties could reach R100,000 for a first contravention, although the Bill remains subject to the parliamentary process and is not yet law.
The developments have placed renewed focus on compliance with labour protections for domestic workers, including registration for UIF and lawful employment.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
