EMPLOYMENT BILL PRESS CONFERENCE

Issued by: Ministry of Labour

RE: EMPLOYMENT BILL PRESS CONFERENCE ISSUED BY: TITO MBOWENI, MINISTER OF LABOUR DATE: 14 APRIL 1997

You are invited to attend a press conference where the Cabinet's decision on the proposed Basic Conditions of Employment Bill will be announced. The Press conference will be held on Thursday 17 April at 10 am at the Carlton Hotel in Johannesburg.

The Bill aims to revamp the existing Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the Wage Act so that all employees, including temporary and part-time employees, are protected by a floor of basic working conditions.

Submission of the new Basic conditions of Employment Bill to the Cabinet follows the publication in February last year of a Green Paper on Policy Proposals for a New Employment Statute.

This Green Paper proposed new rights to cover all employees, including:

• reducing ordinary working hours to 45 hours a week for day workers now working 46 hours and shift workers who work 48 hours. Security guards who work up to 60 hours a week should have their hours reduced to 48 hours over two years.
• a prohibition on children younger than 15 years working and specific regulations about working conditions for children between the ages of 15 years and 18 years. Last year, the National Schools Act set the school leaving age at 15.
• better protection for pregnant workers, including women who have stillbirths. Pregnant workers would be entitled to four months maternity leave during which their jobs would be protected.

The Bill which has been submitted to Cabinet for decision on Wednesday 16 April draws on extensive negotiation of the Green Paper's proposals in the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) where business, labour and government is represented. Discussions were also held with churches and 94 comments were received from trade unions, employer organisations, non-governmental organisations, local authorities and other members of the public.

If Cabinet approves the Bill which has been submitted to it, that Bill will be published in the Government Gazette on Friday, 18 April 1997 and tabled for further negotiation at Nedlac.

Finalising this new law is an important part of the Labour Ministry's five year programme to transform the world of work in South Africa. It is also an important part of the government's action plans for 1997, as noted by President Nelson Mandela when he opened Parliament this year.

For inquiries phone Estelle Randall, Ministerial Media Officer on 082 7771745.

PRESS CONFERENCE DETAILS

DATE: THURSDAY, 17 APRIL 1997 TIME: 10 AM PLACE: CARLTON HOTEL, CORNER OF MAIN AND KRUIS STREETS, JOHANNESBURG

The new Basic Conditions of Employment Bill will be available in the Government Gazette on Friday 18 April 1997. It will also be available on the Internet at http://www.polity.org.za on Friday 18 April 1997.