Minister Zhou Maoyi calls for strict adherence to South Africa’s labour laws by Chinese businesses
Minister Zhou Maoyi from the Chinese Embassy in South Africa has warned Chinese business owners in South Africa to respect and adhere to the country’s labour laws and regulations.
Maoyi addressed Chinese business owners and other stakeholders during an engagement led by the Chinese Community, in conjunction with the Department of Employment and Labour (DoL) at the China Mall in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Organised under the Publicity Week on Lawful and Compliant Operation, the initiative seeks to ensure local and international businesses comply with the country’s labour laws, with China coming in as South Africa’s leading trading partner.
Maoyi stressed the importance of operating within the legal framework of South Africa, stating: “We call on our Chinese business owners to adhere to the labour laws of South Africa. We want you to do business according to South African laws.”
Furthermore, Maoyi said the initiative to strengthen SA and China’s trade relations comes on the back of recent investments and commitments by the Chinese government, as well as increased vigilance by the South African government on illegal immigration and unethical business practices across the board.
“This year, we can see that the South African government has strengthened its law enforcement against illegal foreigners and related activities. I remind our business owners not to breach the law and cause unnecessary loss and damage to the name of China and our country, which will harm our sustainable development goals.”
Reacting to the latest challenges and opportunities in the country’s labour sector, Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Jomo Sibiya, commended the Chinese business leaders for initiating the collaboration with the department.
He further called for business leaders to be mindful of the country’s labour laws.
“If I want to trade in China, I must understand the system. I must understand the labour laws and the business laws of China. So it’s the same with South Africa. One thing I can say is that the relationship that we have between South Africa and China is a solid relationship. It is a relationship that has lasted a long time, and we want to keep that relationship. When it comes to people-to-people relationships, it is very strong.”
Sibiya further characterised the relationship as one built on partnership rather than animosity.
He stressed: “We are here today; we want to visit the other eight (malls) so that we see that they are complying with our laws.”
Echoing these sentiments, Xu Changbin, the chairperson of China Mall, welcomed the initiative, describing it as an excellent platform for business owners to deepen their knowledge of local labour laws.
“South Africa, the land on which we stand, is not only the place where we conduct our business and build our lives, but also our shared home. As merchants operating here, we are both beneficiaries of the business environment and barriers to social responsibility. We fully recognise that law and compliance operations are not only the foundation of working hours to the payment of wages and benefits, but also the safeguarding of working conditions,” he stated.