Newsletter Details

Portfolio Committee on Labour

Extended Invitation for Commentary

Information obtained from SASLAW

The Portfolio Committee on Labour has extended invitation for commentary on the following Bills to 16 March 2018 (submissions having initially closed in December 2017):

Basic Conditions of Employment Amendment Bill [B30-2017]; National Minimum Wage Bill [B31-2017]; and the Labour Relations Amendment Bill [B32-2017].

Basic Conditions of Employment Amendment Bill [B30-2017]

The aim of the Bill is “To amend the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997, so as to substitute and insert certain definitions; to provide for daily wage payments applicable to certain employees; to repeal the provisions dealing with sectoral determinations and the Employment Conditions Commission; to extend the jurisdiction of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration; to extend the provisions for monitoring and enforcement by the labour inspector; to include enforcement of the provisions of the National Minimum Wage Act, 2017, the Unemployment Insurance Act, 2001 and the Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act, 2002; to provide for claims for underpayment; to provide for transitional arrangements; to regulate sectoral determinations currently in force; to strengthen collective bargaining in respect of the sectors regulated by those sectoral determinations; and to provide for matters connected therewith.”

National Minimum Wage Bill [B31-2017]

The aim of the Bill is “To provide for a national minimum wage; to establish the National Minimum Wage Commission; to provide for the composition and functions of the National Minimum Wage Commission; to provide for the review and annual adjustment of the national minimum wage; to provide for exemption from paying the national minimum wage; to provide for transitional provisions in respect of farm workers and domestic workers; and to provide for matters connected therewith.”

Labour Relations Amendment Bill [B32-2017]

The aim of the Bill is “To amend the Labour Relations Act, 1995, so as to provide criteria for the Minister before the Minister is compelled to extend the collective agreement as contemplated in the Act; to provide for the renewal and extension of funding agreements; to provide for picketing by collective agreement or by determination by the Commission in terms of picketing regulations; to provide for the classification of a ratified or determined minimum service; to extend the meaning of ballot to include any voting by members that is recorded in secret; to provide for the independence of the registrar and the deputy registrar; to provide for an advisory arbitration panel; to provide for an advisory arbitration award; to provide for transitional provisions; and to provide for matters connected therewith.”

(Information obtained from SASLAW)