The compliance and enforcement of decent work indicators within the retail
sector cannot be avoided. The purpose of this research was to investigate
the level of non-compliance within the retail sector in the Johannesburg
North region of Gauteng Province, against the indicators as advocated by
the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and as one of the mandates of
the African National Congress provincial and national administration. The
study was conducted through the quantitative and qualitative research
methodology approach. Questionnaires, in-depth interviews and
documentary analysis were undertaken to answer the research questions.
The findings of the study indicate that the decent work deficit is prevalent
within the retail sector, because of a lack of enforcement of government
policies relating to labour laws. The study concludes that the implementation
of decent work indicators by the employers was not adequately complied
with because of the market-oriented economy which gives rise to labour
market flexibility prescriptions.
The study recommends that the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG)
should develop and institutionalise tailor-made decent work policy indicators
for the retail sector that will inform operationalisation, enforcement and
compliance.