It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis that affects everyone and has severe financial implications for every industry all over South-Africa. Both employers and employees are affected by these implications. On Sunday the 21st of June 2020, the South-African National Taxi Council (Santaco) confirmed its plans to shut down operations on [...]
Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has issued Government Gazette Number 43476 on 26 June 2020 in terms of Regulation 27(2) of the Disaster Management act, 2002 (act no. 57 of 2002). The Directive issued addresses amongst other things, amendments made with regards to gatherings (regulation 37) and Sporting & leisure ( 39) during the “advanced” [...]
Many employers find themselves having to consider cost-saving measures to ensure business continuity due to the COVID 19 pandemic’s effect on South Africa’s economy. One of these measures is to retrench employees in terms of section 189 of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995. Section 189 regulates the procedure employers must follow when [...]
On 4 June 2020, the Minister of Employment and Labour issued a directive aimed at regulating health and safety in the workplace in support of the fight against the COVID 19 pandemic. All employers must comply with the said Directive to ensure the safety of its workers. The Directive serves as a guideline to ensure [...]
In the recent Labour Court judgement of Edcon Ltd v Cantamessa and Others [2020] 2 BLLR 186 (LC), the question of employees making racist remarks was considered. The facts can be summarised as follow: After watching a documentary programme on television, the employee proceeded to refer to the Government as ”monkeys” on her Facebook page, which page [...]
If an employee is found to have done private work under the company’s name during the lockdown, which prohibited a company from operating, the employee might face serious disciplinary action. For example, a Plumber contacts the employer’s clients under level 5 Lockdown or a Hairdresser under Level 5, 4 or 3 lockdown conducts private work [...]
Dear CEO Members On the 15th June 2020, the Unemployment Insurance Fund Departmental spokesperson Teboho Thejane issued a statement indicating that the UIF department will begin to follow the trail of the money that has been disbursed since April 2020 to aid for its contributors during the lockdown. The Minister of Employment and [...]
Dear CEO Members On Friday 12 June 2020, the Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi has extended the collective agreement (regulating wages, working conditions and benefits for the industry) on request of the National Bargaining Council for the Hairdressing, Cosmetology, Beauty and Skincare Industry (HCSBC) to non-parties. This was done despite the continuous [...]
As more of the economy open to allow the operation of a number of businesses under Lockdown Level 3, many employers and employees have one common fear, the fear of contracting the COVID 19 virus. However, at some stage, we must all face the reality of returning to work during this pandemic. Employers may [...]
In recent weeks, the burning issue has been whether employees who do not test negative for the COVID 19 disease will be permitted to return to the workplace. The conundrum has been created by a crafty confusion of terminology and media mongering. “To not test negative” as the Chief Inspector of the Department of Employment [...]