The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has welcomed government’s tabling of the Employment Services Amendment Bill before Parliament.

Cosatu says the bill could help address undocumented migrant labour and South Africa’s high unemployment rate.

It allows the Employment and Labour minister to set limits on documented migrant workers in workplaces, regions and sectors.

Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says the bill protects the labour rights of all workers and increases penalties for employers who break the law.