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The African National Congress welcomes the assenting of President Jacob
Zuma to the Labour Relations Amendment Act yesterday, 19th August 2014.
We believe that this step clears the way for the proclamation and
gazetting of radical and bold steps to further secure and entrench
workers rights through progressive labour relations prescripts.

The ANC is particularly pleased that the Labour Relations Amendment Act
deals decisively with the untenable exploitation of workers through
labour brokers. The Act ensures greater protection for workers placed in
temporary employment services in that they cannot be treated unequally
from any other employee performing the same or similar work. Further the
temporary employment service and its client are jointly and severally
liable for specified contraventions of employment laws. According to the
Act, temporary employment and fixed term contract work should not exceed
a period of three months, following which the employee will be entitiled
to equal benefits and conditions as employees employed permanently -
barring a few exceptions identified within act. This is a significant
victory for many workers who have been subjected to certain abusive
practices as a result of a lack of job security.

These amendments take forward the ANC's commitment to decent work by
providing adequate protection to vulnerable workers due to increased
informalisation of labour. It will strengthen the constitutional rights
of workers and promote fair labour practices through the strengthening of
collective bargaining and protection from unfair discrimination. These
amendments will alsp strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of primary
labour institutions that provide recourse.

One of the pillars of these amendments will tighten the interpretation of
Labour Relations and Basic Conditions of Employment Act of 1997. The ANC
appreciates the vigorous engagements that led to these developments and
hail this as a major step forward.