Department of Labour

List 10 other official names: Departement van Arbeid (Afrikaans) umNyango wezabaSebenzi (Southern Ndebele) iSebe lezaBasebenzi (Xhosa) uMnyango Wezabasebenzi (Zulu) Litiko Letetisebenti (Swazi) Kgoro ya Bašomi (Northern Sotho) Lefapha la tsa Mesebetsi (Sotho) Lefapha la Bodiri (Tswana) Ndzawulo ya Vatirhi (Tsonga) Muhasho wa Mishumo (Venda)
Department overview
Type	Department
Jurisdiction	Government of South Africa
Headquarters	25°44′59″S 28°11′20″E / 25.74972°S 28.18889°E / -25.74972; 28.18889
Employees	3,490 (2010/11)
Annual budget	R1,981 million (2011/12)
Minister responsible	Thembelani Thulas Nxesi, Minister of Employment and Labour
Deputy Minister responsible	Boitumelo Moloi, Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour
Department executive	Mr. Thobile Lamati, Director-General: Labour
Child agencies	Advisory Council for Occupational Health and Safety Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration Commission for Employment Equity Compensation Board Employment Conditions Commission National Economic Development and Labour Council Productivity South Africa Unemployment Insurance Fund
Key documents	Labour Relations Act, 1995 Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997 Employment Equity Act, 1998 Unemployment Insurance Act, 1996 Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, National Minimum Wage Act, Employment Services Act,
Website	www.labour.gov.za

The Department of Employment and Labour is the department of the South African government responsible for matters related to employment, including industrial relations, job creation, unemployment insurance and occupational health and safety. Through a range of initiatives developed in collaboration with social partners, the Department of Employment and Labour makes a substantial contribution to the decline in inequality, poverty, and unemployment. These programs aim to reduce workplace poverty, promote positive labor relations, increase economic efficiency and productivity, eliminate workplace discrimination and inequality.

As of 3 July 2024 the Minister of Employment and Labour is Nomakhosazana Meth. In the 2011/12 budget the department had a budget of R1,981 million and a staff complement of 3,490 civil servants.^[1]

Prior to the creation of the Department of Labour in 1924, labour issues in the country were the responsibility of the Department of Mines and in that year, the latter was stripped of the function and given to the new department.^[2] In April 1935 the department was renamed the Department of Labour and Social Welfare.^[2] Then on 1 October 1937, its original name was reused as the Department of Labour and a new department created for the other, the Department of Social Welfare.^[2]

• Official website