Extending Labour and Social Protection to Workers in the Hospitality Sector A Path Towards Achieving Decent Work

Abstract

The hospitality sector in South Africa plays a crucial role in the national economy, yet its full potential remains unfulfilled because of various challenges. Legal shortcomings in the country’s labour and social protection systems create significant difficulties in this sector. Consequently, employers often exploit employees by offering low wages, imposing long working hours, providing insufficient representation in trade unions, or even excluding these workers entirely. These issues disproportionately affect low-skilled workers, individuals employed in small and medium enterprises, undocumented migrant workers, and those engaged in informal food trading. A significant portion of the workforce in this sector comprises undocumented migrant workers. Employers frequently prefer to hire these individuals because it allows them to exploit and underpay them more easily than their documented counterparts or South African citizens. Consequently, undocumented workers often occupy the most vulnerable and poorly compensated positions within the industry. Considering these pressing challenges, it is imperative for both the public and private sectors to formulate and implement comprehensive support initiatives aimed at strengthening the hospitality sector. Targeted training and development programmes are essential tools for addressing the systemic obstacles that workers face. Additionally, reforming the immigration system to facilitate the regulation of low-skilled labour migration between African countries could significantly alleviate the hardships endured by these workers. Implementing such measures is crucial, not only for enhancing the well-being of the workforce, but also for promoting a more equitable and sustainable hospitality sector in South Africa.