South Africans Agree on Labour Law Changes – Survey
Polling Correspondent
– November 17, 2025
2 min read
Over 80% of South Africans are open to having labour laws in the country relaxed to help job-seekers.
This insight comes from a Social Research Foundation survey of 1 412 registered South African voters conducted in October 2023.
In that survey a question was put to participants: “South Africa’s labour laws make it difficult to create jobs and the laws should be relaxed so that more people can find work. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?”
Participants could agree somewhat or strongly or disagree somewhat or strongly.
Amongst all registered voters 86% agreed with the statement somewhat or strongly and 10% disagreed with the statement somewhat or strongly.
When broken down by race 85% of black voters agreed with the statement somewhat or strongly and 10% disagreed with the statement somewhat or strongly.
Amongst coloured voters 83% agreed with the statement somewhat or strongly and 17% disagreed with the statement somewhat or strongly.
Amongst white voters 87% agreed with the statement somewhat or strongly and 8% disagreed with the statement somewhat or strongly.
Similar widespread agreement existed across lines of party affiliation, home language, residential area, highest level of educational achievement, income, and gender.
