Parliament, Friday, 18 September 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour has officially opened public comments on the Employment Services Amendment Bill [B 16–2026], thereby initiating a critical step in formulating a legislation that will reshape South Africa’s labour migration framework.
The proposed Bill seeks to legally regulate the employment of foreign nationals amid shifting economic and demographic dynamics, a shift the committee believes needs to be shaped by views from all sectors of the South African society. Accordingly, the committee invites citizens, civil society, business formations, and organised labour to submit written input before formal parliamentary deliberations commence.
The Bill is also intended to, among other things, update the foundational Employment Services Act of 2014 by broadening its statutory enforcement powers and expanding legal protections to new sectors. A primary focus of the amendment is regulating foreign labour by introducing structured frameworks to manage the employment of non-citizens, ensuring total statutory alignment with the Immigration Act and the Refugees Act.
Stakeholders submitting written representations are requested to indicate if they wish to deliver a verbal presentation during upcoming parliamentary public hearings.
Written submissions should be addressed to the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour, for the attention of Mr Zolani Sakasa by email at this email address: employmentservicesbill@parliament.gov.za by no later than Friday, 6 November 2026 at 16h00. Mr Sakasa is contactable on 083 709 8488.
Official copies of the Employment Services Amendment Bill [B 16–2026] are available for download on the Parliament website at www.parliament.gov.za.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR, MR BOYCE MANELI.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Mr Temba Gubula
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 081 402 3531
Email: tgubula@parliament.gov.za
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