Summary: To change the law governing labour relations and, for that purpose-
· to give effect to section 27 of the Constitution;
· to regulate the organisational rights of trade unions;
· to promote and facilitate collective bargaining at the workplace and at sectoral level;
· to regulate the right to strike and the recourse to lockout in conformity with the Constitution;
· to promote employee participation in decision-making through the establishment of workplace forums;
· to provide simple procedures for the resolution of labour disputes through statutory conciliation, mediation and arbitration (for which purpose the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration is established), and through independent alternative dispute resolution services accredited for that purpose;
· to establish the Labour Court and Labour Appeal Court as superior courts, with exclusive jurisdiction to decide matters arising from the Act;
· to provide for a simplified procedure for the registration of trade unions and employers' organisations, and to provide for their regulation to ensure democratic practices and proper financial control;
· to give effect to the public international law obligations of the Republic relating to labour relations;
· to amend and repeal certain laws relating to labour relations; and
· to provide for incidental matters.

Be it enacted by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa as follows:-

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Purpose, application and interpretation

   1.  Purpose of this Act

   2.  Exclusion from application of this Act

   3.  Interpretation of this Act

Chapter 2: Freedom of association and general protections

   4.  Employees' right to freedom of association

   5.  Protection of employees and persons seeking employment

   6.  Employers' right to freedom of association

   7.  Protection of employers' rights

   8.  Rights of trade unions and employers' organisations

   9.  Procedure for disputes

   10.  Burden of proof

Chapter 3: Collective Bargaining

Part A : Organisational Rights

   11.  Trade union representativeness

   12.  Trade union access to workplace

   13.  Deduction of trade union subscriptions or levies

   14.  Trade union representatives

   15.  Leave for trade union activities

   16.  Disclosure of information

   17.  Restricted rights in domestic sector

   18.  Right to establish thresholds of representativeness

   19.  Certain organisational rights for trade union party to council

   20.  Organisational rights in collective agreements

   21.  Exercise of rights conferred by this Part 4

   22.  Disputes about organisational rights

Part B : Collective Agreements

   23.  Legal effect of collective agreement

   24.  Disputes about collective agreements

   25.  Agency shop agreements

   26.  Closed shop agreements

Part C : Bargaining Councils

   27.  Establishment of bargaining councils

   28.  Powers and functions of bargaining council

   29.  Registration of bargaining councils

   30.  Constitution of bargaining council

   31.  Binding nature of collective agreement concluded in bargaining council

   32.  Extension of collective agreement concluded in bargaining council

   33.  Appointment and powers of designated agents of bargaining councils

   34.  Amalgamation of bargaining councils

Part D : Bargaining Councils in the Public Service

   35.  Bargaining councils in public service

   36.  Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council

   37.  Bargaining councils in sectors in public service

   38.  Disputes between bargaining councils in public service

Part E : Statutory Councils

   39.  Application to establish statutory council

   40.  Establishment and registration of statutory council

   41.  Establishment and registration of statutory council in absence of agreement

   42.  Certificate of registration of statutory council

   43.  Powers and functions of statutory councils

   44.  Ministerial determinations

   45.  Disputes about determinations

   46.  Withdrawal of party from statutory council

   47.  Appointment of new representative of statutory council

   48.  Change of status of statutory council

Part F : General Provisions Concerning Councils

   49.  Representativeness of council

   50.  Effect of registration of council

   51.  Dispute resolution functions of council

   52.  Accreditation of council or appointment of accredited agency

   53.  Accounting records and audits

   54.  Duty to keep records and provide information to registrar

   55.  Delegation of functions to committee of council

   56.  Admission of parties to council 12

   57.  Changing constitution or name of council

   58.  Variation of registered scope of council

   59.  Winding-up of council

   60.  Winding-up of council by reason of insolvency

   61.  Cancellation of registration of council

   62.  Disputes about demarcation between sectors and areas

   63.  Disputes about Parts A and C to F

Chapter 4: Strikes and lock-outs

   64.  Right to strike and recourse to lock out

   65.  Limitations on right to strike or recourse to lock-out

   66.  Secondary strikes

   67.  Strike or lock-out in compliance with this Act

   68.  Strike or lock-out not in compliance with this Act

   69.  Picketing 16

   70.  Essential services committee

   71.  Designating a service as an essential service

   72.  Minimum services

   73.  Disputes about whether a service is an essential service

   74.  Disputes in essential services18

   75.  Maintenance services

   76.  Replacement labour

   77.  Protest action to promote or defend socio-economic interests of workers

Chapter 5: Workplace Forums

   78.  Definitions in this Chapter

   79.  General functions of workplace forum

   80.  Establishment of workplace forum

   81.  Trade union based workplace forum

   82.  Requirements for constitution of workplace forum

   83.  Meetings of workplace forum

   84.  Specific matters for consultation

   85.  Consultation

   86.  Joint decision-making

   87.  Review at request of newly established workplace forum

   88.  Matters affecting more than one workplace forum in an employer's operation

   89.  Disclosure of information

   90.  Inspection and copies of documents

   91.  Breach of confidentiality

   92.  Full-time members of workplace forum

   93.  Dissolution of workplace forum

   94.  Disputes about workplace forums

Chapter 6: Trade Unions And Employers' Organisations

Part A : Registration And Regulation Of Trade Unions And Employers' Organisations

   95.  Requirements for registration of trade unions or employers' organisations

   96.  Registration of trade unions or employers' organisations

   97.  Effect of registration of trade union or employers' organisation

   98.  Accounting records and audits

   99.  Duty to keep records

   100.  Duty to provide information to registrar

   101.  Changing constitution or name of registered trade unions or employers' organisations

   102.  Amalgamation of trade unions or employers' organisations

   103.  Winding-up of trade unions or employers' organisations

   104.  Winding-up of trade unions or employers' organisations by reason of insolvency

   105.  Declaration that trade union is no longer independent

   106.  Cancellation of registration of trade unions or employers' organisations

Part B : Regulation Of Federations Of Trade Unions And Employers' Organisations

   107.  Regulation of federations of trade unions or employers' organisations

Part C : Registrar Of Labour Relations

   108.  Appointment of registrar of labour relations

   109.  Functions of registrar

   110.  Access to information

Part D : Appeals From Registrar's Decision

   111.  Appeals from registrar's decision

Chapter 7: Dispute Resolution

Part A : Commission For Conciliation, Mediation And Arbitration

   112.  Establishment of Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration

   113.  Independence of Commission

   114.  Area of jurisdiction and offices of Commission

   115.  Functions of Commission

   116.  Governing body of Commission

   117.  Commissioners of Commission

   118.  Director of Commission

   119.  Acting director of Commission

   120.  Staff of Commission

   121.  Establishment of committees of Commission

   122.  Finances of Commission

   123.  Circumstances in which Commission may charge fees

   124.  Contracting by Commission, and Commission working in association with any person

   125.  Delegation of governing body's powers, functions and duties

   126.  Limitation of liability and limitation on disclosure of information

Part B : Accreditation Of And Subsidy To Councils And Private Agencies

   127.  Accreditation of councils and private agencies

   128.  General provisions relating to accreditation

   129.  Amendment of accreditation

   130.  Withdrawal of accreditation

   131.  Application to renew accreditation

   132.  Subsidy to council or private agency

Part C : Resolution Of Disputes Under Auspices Of Commission

   133.  Resolution of disputes under auspices of Commission

   134.  Disputes about matters of mutual interest

   135.  Resolution of disputes through conciliation

   136.  Appointment of commissioner to resolve dispute through arbitration

   137.  Appointment of senior commissioner to resolve dispute through arbitration

   138.  General provisions for arbitration proceedings

   139.  Special provisions for arbitrating disputes in essential services

   140.  Special provisions for arbitrations about dismissals for reasons related to conduct or capacity

   141.  Resolution of disputes if parties consent to arbitration under auspices of Commission

   142.  Powers of commissioner when attempting to resolve disputes

   143.  Effect of arbitration awards

   144.  Variation and rescission of arbitration awards and rulings

   145.  Review of arbitration awards

   146.  Exclusion of Arbitration Act

   147.  Performance of dispute resolution functions by Commission in exceptional circumstances

   148.  Commission may provide advice

   149.  Commission may provide assistance

   150.  Commission may offer to resolve dispute through conciliation

Part D : Labour Court

   151.  Establishment and status of Labour Court

   152.  Composition of Labour Court

   153.  Appointment of judges of Labour Court

   154.  Tenure, remuneration and terms and conditions of appointment of Labour Court judges

   155.  Officers of Labour Court

   156.  Area of jurisdiction and seat of Labour Court

   157.  Jurisdiction of Labour Court

   158.  Powers of Labour Court

   159.  Rules Board for Labour Courts and rules for Labour Court

   160.  Proceedings of Labour Court to be carried on in open court

   161.  Representation before Labour Court

   162.  Costs

   163.  Service and enforcement of orders of Labour Court

   164.  Seal of Labour Court

   165.  Variation and rescission of orders of Labour Court

   166.  Appeals against judgment or order of Labour Court

Part E : Labour Appeal Court

   167.  Establishment and status of Labour Appeal Court

   168.  Composition of Labour Appeal Court

   169.  Appointment of judges of Labour Appeal Court

   170.  Tenure, remuneration and terms and conditions of appointment of Labour Appeal Court judges

   171.  Officers of Labour Appeal Court

   172.  Area of jurisdiction and seat of Labour Appeal Court

   173.  Jurisdiction of Labour Appeal Court

   174.  Powers of Labour Appeal Court on hearing of appeals

   175.  Labour Appeal Court may sit as court of first instance

   176.  Rules for Labour Appeal Court

   177.  Proceedings of Labour Appeal Court to be carried on in open court

   178.  Representation before Labour Appeal Court

   179.  Costs

   180.  Service and enforcement of orders

   181.  Seal of Labour Appeal Court

   182.  Judgments of Labour Appeal Court binding on Labour Court

   183.  Labour Appeal Court final court of appeal

Part F : General Provisions Applicable To Courts Established By This Act

   184.  General provisions applicable to courts established by this Act

Chapter 8: Unfair dismissal and unfair labour practice

   185.  Right not to be unfairly dismissed or subjected to unfair labour practice

   186.  Meaning of dismissal and unfair labour practice

   187.  Automatically unfair dismissals

   188.  Other unfair dismissals

   189.  Dismissals based on operational requirements

   190.  Date of dismissal

   191.  Disputes about unfair dismissals and unfair labour practices52

   192.  Onus in dismissal disputes

   193.  Remedies for unfair dismissal and unfair labour practice

   194.  Limits on compensation

   195.  Compensation is in addition to any other amount

   196.  Severance pay

   197.  Transfer of contract of employment

Chapter 9: General Provisions

   198.  Temporary Employment Services

   199.  Contracts of employment may not disregard or waive collective agreements or arbitration awards

   200.  Representation of employees or employers

   201.  Confidentiality

   202.  Service of documents

   203.  Codes of good practice

   204.  Collective agreement, arbitration award or wage determination to be kept by employer

   205.  Records to be kept by employer

   206.  Effect of certain defects and irregularities

   207.  Ministers empowered to add and change to Schedules

   208.  Regulations

   209.  This Act binds the State

   210.  Application of Act when in conflict with other laws

   211.  Amendment of laws

   212.  Repeal of laws, and transitional arrangements

   213.  Definitions

   214.  Short title and commencement

Schedule 1: Establishment Of Bargaining Councils For Public Service

   Definitions for this Schedules

   Establishment of Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council

   Establishment of bargaining councils in sectors

Schedule 2: Guidelines For Constitution Of Workplace Forum

   Introduction

   Number of seats in workplace forums (section 82(1)(a))

   Distribution of seats to reflect occupational structure (section 82(1)(b))

   Elections (section 82(1)(c), (d), (g), (h), (i) and (j))

   Terms of office (section 82(1)(k), (l) and (m))

   Meetings of workplace forum (section 82(1)(n))

   Time off for members of workplace forum (section 82(1)(p))

   Facilities to be provided to workplace forum (section 82(1)(r))

   Experts (section 82(1)(t))

   Establishment of coordinating and subsidiary workplace forums (section 82(2)(b))

Schedule 3: Commission For Conciliation, Mediation &Amp; Arbitration

   Remuneration and allowances of members of governing body

   Resignation and removal from office of member of governing body

   Vacancies in governing body

   Proceedings of governing body