Domestic worker sector has seen a job bloodbath: SweepSouth

In addition to the jobs bloodbath faced by women in the industry, the company reported that 25 000 men who were gardeners and outdoor workers – had also lost their jobs in the first quarter of this year.

Catherine Zungu worked for a young family in Randburg, for a number of years. In June this year, the family moved to New Zealand in search of greener pastures, leaving Zungu jobless. She has gone two months without a salary and her daily meals are now a struggle.

“Our 2 primary destinations where we send applicants, Canada and Australia have always relied on skilled emigrants coming into the country. When the borders were closed, it had such a huge impact on the numbers going there and it has actually increased the shortage in these countries.”

“These Australian employees are actively headhunting in South Africa. A lot of applicants are seeing the cost of living through the roof. We notice when the load shedding increases that out enquiries correlate with that”, says emigration expert Mark Wilkinson.

New World Emigration based in Cape Town says, since the July unrest last year, the company has seen a record number of enquiries from people wanting to leave the country.

The company’s Mark Wilkinson says, adding to security, load shedding and the high cost of living is pushing skilled labour abroad.

SweepSouth has warned that the second-quarter figures are likely to tell a more horrifying tale.