‘Comply or Face Consequences’: Chinese Employers in SA Warned Over Wages, Worker Treatment

Chinese business owners in South Africa have been urged to follow labour laws or face action amid concerns over wages and worker treatment.

The message came from the Department of Employment and Labour, with Deputy Minister Jomo Sibiya issuing a stern warning to a gathering of business owners at China Mall in Johannesburg : obey the country’s labour laws, pay minimum wage, don’t hire undocumented migrants, and treat workers with dignity.

The Warning

Sibiya said the department would come after Chinese businesspeople who failed to comply.

He said they must prioritise South Africans for jobs because not everybody who has a document to stay in SA is eligible to be hired. Some came with tourist, study, and other visas which did not necessarily allow them to be employed.

The deputy minister condemned some Chinese businesspeople in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal for treating local workers “like animals, trampling on their dignity and paying them unacceptable wages.”

“We would rather have no investment if it compromises the livelihoods of our people. Our people come first and we must protect them.”

Skilled Workers Available

Sibiya added that the department was willing to give Chinese businesspeople skilled workers from the department’s database of four million legitimate jobseekers.

“We want to ensure investors are protected in our country and, therefore, we want our people protected, too.”

A Change of Direction

Sibiya praised some businesspeople for voluntarily offering to comply with South African labour laws, including granting workers the necessary labour rights.

He said this signalled a change of direction and new hope that Chinese employers wanted to change and do the right thing.

Diplomatic Support

The journey to bring Chinese businesses to operate in line with SA laws was initiated by the department in conjunction with the Chinese embassy, including Chinese ambassador Wu Peng and Chinese consul-general in Johannesburg Pan Qingjiang.

Chinese embassy minister Zhou Maoyi said a business community breaking a country’s laws would give China a bad name.

In his address, Pan said: “For Chinese businesses operating in SA, abiding by the law and operating in compliance is not an option, but a compulsory course and the lifeline of development.”

The Bottom Line

The message was clear: comply or face the law.

Pay minimum wage. Hire South Africans. Treat workers with dignity.

The department is watching. And the Chinese embassy is supporting the push for compliance.