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Three suspects (two females and one male) aged 32, 33, and 45 were apprehended and detained by members of the South African Police Services (SAPS) on Boom Street, Marabastad Pretoria, yesterday, 14 March 2022, for impersonating Labour Inspectors. 

The three undocumented foreign nationals are accused of going from store to store to check compliance with labour laws and requested Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) documents. Suspicious employers began to discuss the suspicious inspectors on their WhatsApp group and called the police. 

When SAPS officers questioned them, they discovered that the suspects were in possession of forged contracts implying that they were working in collaboration with the Department of Employment and Labour, South African Revenue Services (SARS), and the Amandebele Kingdom. They had forged documents in their possession, including fictitious labour inspectors' cards, which they use to gain access to workplace premises.

The Department emphasises that it is a criminal offence under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act for anyone to pose as a labour inspector and perform any functions related to labour inspection.

The Department would like to emphasise that it has no contract with any company to conduct inspections on its behalf, and it would like employers to be extra cautious. The Department commends employers for their vigilance, which resulted in the arrest of the three suspects.

The Department appoints Employment and Labour Inspectors in accordance with Section 63 (1) of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997, as amended, to monitor and enforce the following legislation; The Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997, as amended; Compensation for Occupational Injury and Disease Act, No. 130 of 1993; Employment Equity Act, No. 55 of 1998; Occupational Health and Safety Act, No. 85 of 1993; Unemployment Insurance Act, No. 30 of 1996.

To avoid becoming a victim of a con artist posing as a labour inspector, the Department recommends that you keep the following in mind: Genuine Inspectors can be identified by their Inspector identification card, which bears the Departmental Logo, as well as their trademark uniforms. These are created in advance of the inspection.

The Department wishes to reiterate and unequivocally state that it has no agreements or partnerships with any recruitment agencies, nor has it authorised any organisation to charge a fee for services rendered by the Department. Employers must exercise extreme caution and report any suspicious visits or requests to SAPS or the Department's local offices. If employers are concerned about the inspector's visit, they can check the credentials with the Department's nearest office.

Issued by Department of Employment and Labour