Basic Conditions of employment Act

PURPOSE OF BCEA

  • Provides clear terms and conditions for employment for employers and employees
  • Set minimum requirements/standards for the employment contract
  • Regulates the right for fair labour practices set out in the constitution
  • Adheres to the rules and regulations set out by international labour organisations.
  • Regulates the variations of basic conditions of employment
  • Advance economic development and social justice.

IMPACT OF THE BCEA

POSITIVE/ADVANTAGES

  • Creates a framework of acceptable employment practices e.g., work hours, leave, etc.
  • Promotes fair treatment of employees in business.
  • Encourages consultation between employers and employees.
  • Outlines minimum requirements that form the basis of employment contracts.
  • Work hours are specified so that the employer cannot exploit employees.
  • The rules and regulations are very specific which clearly guides the employer on how to deal with employment issues.
  • Employees are permitted to consult labour unions in case where the BCEA conditions are violated
  • Employees may submit complaint to labour inspectors who can address it.

NEGATIVE / DISADVANTAGES

  • Developing/Drafting a formal/legal employment contract may be time-consuming/costly.
  • Businesses may regard employment contracts negative and may not implement it, which result in non-compliance/penalties.
  • No employer may force an employee to work more than 45 hours in a week. This may result in reduced productivity.
  • Hiring cheap labour is no longer possible, so businesses cannot exploit workers.
  • BCEA forces businesses to comply with many legal requirements, which may increase labour costs.

DISCRIMINATORY ACTIONS ACCORDING TO THE BCEA

  • Forbidding workers to discuss wages/salaries with co-workers.
  • Preventing workers from having access to employment contracts.
  • Refusing to accept a valid medical certificate of a sick worker.
  • Refusing to grant a worker family responsibility leave to support a sick family member

PENALTIES BUSINESSES MAY FACE FOR NOT COMPLYING WITH THE BCEA

  • Labour inspectors may serve a compliance order by writing to the Department of Labour
  • The Director General may agree/change/cancel the compliance order.
  • Labour inspectors may investigate/inspect/ask questions about complaints and remove
  • records as evidence.
  • Businesses may be taken to the labour court for a ruling.

WAYS IN WHICH BUSINESSES CAN COMPLY WITH THE BCEA

  • Workers should only work 9 hours per day in a 5-day work week. /8 hours per day in a 6-
  • day work week. /Overtime should not exceed 10 hours per week.
  • They must have a break of 60 minutes after five hours of work
  • Workers can take up to six weeks paid sick leave during a 36-month cycle
  • Businesses should not employ children under the age of 16.
  • Workers must receive double if they work during public holidays/Sunday

PROVISIONS OF THE BCEA

Work hours . Workers may not work for more than 45 hours in any week. . Workers may work nine hours a day if they work five days or less per week/eight hours a day√ if they work more than five days a week. . Night work performed after 18:00 and before 6:00 the next day
Overtime .Workers must agree to work overtime. .Workers cannot work more than three hours’ overtime per day/10 hours per week. .Overtime must be compensated as follows: – One and half times the normal rate of pay for overtime worked on week days and Saturdays. – Double the normal rate of pay for overtime worked on Sundays and public holidays. – Overtime must be paid either at specified rate for overtime or an employee may agree to receive paid time off. . Minister of Labour may prescribe the maximum permitted working hours, including overtime, for health and safety reasons for a certain category of work.
Annual leave Workers are entitled to: • 21 consecutive days’ annual leave per year/One day for every 17 days worked√/One hour for every 17 hours worked. • An employer can only pay a worker in lieu of leave if that worker leaves the job.
Sick leave Workers are entitled to: • Six weeks paid sick leave in a period of 36 months/1 day paid sick leave for every 26 days worked during the first six months of employment. • A medical certificate may be required before paying an employee who is absent for more than two consecutive days/who is frequently absent.
Maternity leave . A pregnant employee is entitled to four consecutive months’ leave. . A pregnant employee may not be allowed to perform work that is hazardous to her unborn child. . The starting date is usually any time from four weeks before the expected date of birth or on advice of a doctor/midwife.
Family responsibility leave .Three to five (3 to 5) days paid leave per year on request in the event of the death of the employee’s spouse/life partner/parent/ adoptive parent/ grandparent/child/adoptive child/grandchild/sibling. . An employer may require reasonable proof, before granting this leave. . Male employees are entitled to a maximum of three/five day’s paternity leave when his child is born
Meal breaks and rest periods .Workers must have a meal break of 60 minute after five continuous hours of work. .This can be reduced to 30 minutes
Public holidays .Workers must be paid for any public holidays that fall on a working day. .Work on public holidays is by agreement and paid at double the rate
Termination of employment .A contract of employment may only be terminated following one week’s notice, if the worker has been employed for six months or less. .A minimum of four weeks’ notice must be given, if the worker has been employed for a year or longer. .The employee must be given notice in writing. .An employee who is retrenched/ dismissed for restructuring reasons is entitled to one week’s severance pay for every year of service.
Child and forced labour .It is illegal to employ a child younger than 15 years of age. .It is also illegal to force someone to work. .Businesses may employ children over the age of 15 years, if employment is not harmful to their health/well-being/education/moral and social development/ minors under 18 years of age may not do dangerous work/work meant for an adult.

Please login to download (R2.00)

⬇ Download PDF

Preparing your download...

Download starting...
Scroll to Top