Labour market regulation and employment creation: Finding the right balance

Nyiko Mpika Mabunda from the Department of Employment and Labour argues that labour regulation and job creation are “two sides of the same coin” rather than opposing forces. Reviewing the DEL’s mandate, the main labour statutes and departmental and HSRC research, the presentation makes the case for “regulated flexibility”, a framework firm on workers’ rights but flexible on formalisation, that protects vulnerable workers while lowering barriers to entry and welcoming those currently excluded from the labour market. Presented at the 2026 Public Economics Conference.