Basic Conditions of Employment Amendment & Labour Relations Amendment Bill

Call for comments opened 18 September 2013 Share this page:

NCOP Public Enterprises and Communication

The Select Committee on Labour and Public Enterprises invites interested people and stakeholder to submit written comments on the following Bills:

Basic Conditions of Employment Amendment Bill [B15B-2012] (as amended by Portfolio Committee on Labour)

Objects of the Bill are to:
(a) address the government's commitment to avoid exploitation of workers;
(b) ensure decent work for all workers;
(c) protect the employment relationship;
(d)bring the provisions regulating child labour in line with international standards;
(e) improve the mechanisms for enforcement of basic conditions of employment;
(f) prohibit certain abusive practices; and
(g) effect certain consequential amendments.

Labour Relations Amendment Bill [B16B-2012] (as amended by Portfolio Committee on Labour)

Objects of the Bill:
In preparation for the publication of the Labour Relations Amendment Bill (the Bill) the Department of Labour (the Department) and the representatives of organised business and labour undertook a labour law review and have engaged in extensive consultations over a period of almost one year in NEDLAC. The proposed amendments to the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act No. 66 of 1995) (the Act), can be grouped under the following themes:

(a) Responses to the increased informalisation of labour to ensure that vulnerable categories of workers receive adequate protection and are employed in conditions of decent work;
(b) adjustments to the law to ensure compliance with South Africa's obligations in terms of international labour standards;
(c) ensuring that labour legislation gives effect to fundamental Constitutional rights, including the right to fair labour practices, to engage in collective bargaining and right to equality and protection from unfair discrimination;
(d) enhancing the effectiveness of the primary labour market institutions such as the Labour Court, the CCMA, the essential services committee and the labour inspectorate;
(e)rectifying anomalies and clarifying uncertainties that have arisen from the interpretation and application of the Act and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997 (Act No. 75 of 1997).

Comments can be emailed to Ms Phumelele Sibisi at [email protected] by no later than Wednesday, 25 September 2013.

Enquiries can be directed to Ms Phumelele Sibisi on tel (021) 403 3660 or cell 083 709 8449.

Issued by Mrs M.P. Themba, MP, Chairperson of the Select Committee on Labour and Public Enterprises