All About Workers

Read or download labour legislation published as Acts and Amendments to the Acts

• Basic Conditions of Employment Act

  Applies to all employers and workers and regulates leave, working hours, employment contracts, deductions, pay slips, and termination

• Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act

  Workers who are affected by occupational injuries and diseases are entitled to compensation

• Employment Equity Act

  Applies to all employers and workers and protects workers and job seekers from unfair discrimination, and also provides a framework for implementing affirmative action

• Labour Relations Act

  Applies to all workers and employers and aims to advance economic development, social justice, labour peace and the democracy of the workplace.

• Occupational Health and Safety Act

  Aims to provide and regulate health and safety at the workplace for all workers.

• Skills Development Act

  Aims to develop and improve the skills of the South African workforce.

• Unemployment Insurance Act No. 63 of 2001

  Provides security to workers when they become unemployed.

Plain English summaries of key topics within labour legislation

• Basic Guide to Annual Leave
  Rules for annual leave as prescribed by the Basic Conditions of Employment Act
• Basic Guide to Deductions
  The Basic Conditions of Employment Act allows for deductions from a worker’s pay only under certain conditions.
• Basic Guide to Employment Contracts
  The Basic Conditions of Employment Act requires that employers give workers certain details of their employment in writing
• Basic Guide to Employment Equity Consultations
  Consultation Forums must be established at the workplace to dicuss Employment Equity issues.
• Basic Guide to Family Responsibility Leave
  Under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, workers may take paid leave to attend to certain family situations
• Basic Guide to Health and Safety Duties of Workers
  All workers must report all health and safety incidents to their employer and the necessarry health and safety parties.
• Basic Guide to Maternity Leave
  The Basic Conditions of Employment Act gives pregnant workers the right to take maternity leave
• Basic Guide to Overtime
  The Basic Conditions of Employment regulates overtime working hours and pay for such hours.
• Basic Guide to Pay Slips
  The Basic Conditions of Employment Act stipulates that employers must give workers certain details each time they are paid.
• Basic Guide to Retrenchment
  Employers must follow certain procedures when retrenching workers.
• Basic Guide to Severance Pay
  Disputes regarding severance pay may be referred to the CCMA.
• Basic Guide to Sick Leave
  Rules for sick leave as prescribed by the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.
• Basic Guide to Termination
  The Basic Conditions of Employment Act stipulates the procedures for termination of an employment contract.
• Basic Guide to Trade Unions
  Trade unions are necessary for bargaining for workers' rights and benefits and they regulate industrial relations.
• Basic Guide to Unfair Discrimination
  No employer may have discriminative policies and practices.
• Basic Guide to Unfair Dismissal and Unfair Labour Practices
  Every worker has the right to a fair dismissal. Any disputes regarding dismissals may be referred to the CCMA for arbitration.
• Basic Guide to Working Hours
  The Basic Conditions of Employment Act regulates working hours and rest periods for workers.
• Basic Guide to Working on Sundays
  The Basic Conditions of Employment prescribes the wages for working on a Sunday.
• Worker’s Guide to UIF
  All workers must contribute 1% of their pay to the UIF. To claim for benefits certain documents need to be completed and handed in at a labour centre.

Simple step-by step instructions for processes and procedures

• How To Claim from the Compensation Fund if you are a Worker

  All workers must report all accidents or disease to their employers immediately, and submit forms from their doctor.

• How To Join a Learnership if you are a Worker

  Workers should ask and encourage employers to start learnerships.

Codes of Good Practices issued by the Minister

• Arrangement of Working Time

  Information and guidelines on shift work and night work and their impact on workers' health and safety

• Key Aspects of HIV/AIDS and Employment

  The Code’s objective is to provide guidelines for employers, workers and trade unions on how to manage HIV/AIDS within the workplace.

Regulations and Notices promulgated by the Department of Labour

• Government Notice earnings threshold
  

Download special reports, guides, and other useful information

• Silica exposure and its effect on the physiology of workers