On 22 March 2012, the South African Cabinet approved the amendments to the Labour Relations Act (LRA) and Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) to be submitted to parliament. According to Aadil Patel, Director and National Head of the Employment practice, this paves the way for the amendments to the suite of labour legislation to be passed into law soon.

The purpose of the amendments to the legislation is to respond to the growth of informalisation of work in the South African labour market and, in particular, to align the BCEA with the LRA in addressing the phenomenon of labour broking. The amendments also serve to bring the provisions regulating child labour in line with international standards and to strengthen the mechanisms for enforcement of basic conditions of employment, including minimum wages. The proposed amendments also include new provisions relating to fixed term contracts and part-time employment.

Patel notes, “The remaining labour legislation amendments - the Employment Equity Amendment Bill and the Employment Services Bill - as well as the passing of the legislation will be considered in due course.

“The time is now ripe for companies to commence considering the impact of these amendments on their businesses.”

More information:
Aadil Patel, Director and National Practice Head, Employment practice, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr,
Tel: +27 (0)11 562 1107
or email: aadil.patel@dlacdh.com

Andrea Collocott, Head: Marketing, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr,
Tel: +27 (0)11 562 1281
or email: andrea.collocott@dlacdh.com

Angela Graham, Tel: 073 505 9012 yeahwrite@worldonline.co.za


Notes:
Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr is one of the largest commercial law firms in South Africa with some 115 directors/partners and 250 qualified lawyers located at offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr lawyers specialise in services covering the complete spectrum of business legal needs in 11 core areas of practice. The firm also has dedicated sector-led teams consisting of lawyers with experience in a wide range of industries and the public sector.

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr is the South African member firm of DLA Piper Group, an alliance of legal practices, which includes firms with offices around the globe that are affiliated to members of the DLA Piper Practice but are not themselves members of it.

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr's Africa practice, in conjunction with DLA Piper Africa Group, is unrivalled in terms of pan-African legal services and geographical coverage.

DLA Piper is an international legal practice with over 3,500 lawyers located in 30 countries and 69 offices throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the US.

For further information, please visit www.cliffedekkerhofmeyr.com