New Labour Centre opens as unemployment bites

By Molaole Montsho

Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth officially opened the Mogwase Labour Centre

The Department of Employment and Labour has relocated its Mogwase offices to a new purpose-built facility as it seeks to improve frontline service delivery in a province grappling with deep unemployment.

The offices have moved from the Mogwase shopping complex to a new building situated between Lesego Medical and Cashbuild, outside Rustenburg.

Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth officially opened the Mogwase Labour Centre on Friday.

 “This Labour Centre exists for one reason: to make the state work better for the people, especially workers, jobseekers, young people and entrepreneurs,” Meth said at the opening.

 The launch comes as the North West province faces severe labour market pressures, with official unemployment standing at 36 percent, while youth unemployment exceeds 55 percent.

 Meth said the centre would play a critical role in providing essential services, including Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) claims processing, employer compliance monitoring, public employment services to link jobseekers with opportunities, inspections to protect vulnerable workers, and advisory support for employers, cooperatives and entrepreneurs.

 She emphasised that the effectiveness of government should be judged by service delivery on the ground rather than policy documents.

 “A capable state was not measured by strategy documents, but it was measured by what happens at the frontline,” Meth said.

“This Centre is about outcomes: faster service delivery, improved compliance, and real opportunities for youth and jobseekers,” she said.

Meth urged residents of Mogwase and surrounding areas to make full use of the new facility.

“Together, we can build a capable, ethical, and developmental state that delivers dignity and economic participation for all.”

Meanwhile, labour inspectors arrested 11 undocumented foreign nationals and six employers during a labour compliance blitz inspection in Rustenburg. The employers were each fined R15,000 for contravening the Immigration Act.

“Exploitation is the root cause of employing undocumented foreign nationals. Some employers opt for cheap labour, which ultimately becomes costly when incidents occur. We urge employers to desist from these acts,” said provincial chief inspector Chris Sithole.

Sithole said inspections revealed widespread non-compliance with labour legislation across sectors in the Rustenburg area.

“Non-compliance around Rustenburg is prevalent in all the sectors, and it is worrying. For the better part of 2025, we did most of our blitz inspections around these areas, targeting other economic sectors, and we believed our presence would also act as a deterrent to other sectors; however, that was not the case, as employers continue to disregard the labour laws,” he said.