The earnings threshold is due to increase by 3% to R211596 per year (R17633 per month) with effect from 1 March 2021. Certain provisions of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act of 1997 (the BCEA) pertaining to working time do however not apply to senior management or employees who earn in excess of certain amount per year (the “earnings threshold”). There are also other interesting implications.
Guide to UIF and other Covid-19 options
Much confusion has arisen with the introduction of the Covid-19 temporary employee / employer relief scheme (C19 TERS)
UIF – NEW “NATIONAL DISASTER BENEFIT”
According to an “Easy – Aid Guide for Employers”, the UIF has added a R3500 per month flat rate benefit to the existing relief measures, which it refers to as a “National Disaster Benefit”.
WHO PAYS SALARIES DURING 21-DAY LOCK-DOWN?
In a drastic measure to curb the spread of COVID-19, the SA Government has declared a lock-down as from midnight on Thursday 26 March 2020 until midnight on Thursday 16 April 2020. This will be enacted in terms of the Disaster Management Act. During this period all employees, with the exception of a few categories, will have to stay at home. Who pays their salaries? What happens after the 21-day lock-down?
UIF OPTIONS IN CORONAVIRUS CONTEXT
Here are the announced measures by Minister of Employment and Labour to facilitate a variety of UIF claims relating to the Coronavirus.
COVID-19 & UIF – SHORT TIME & TEMPORARY LAY-OFF
Some businesses are under severe strain as a consequence of the severe measures implemented due to the COVID-19 having been declared a national disaster. They are resorting to emergency measures such as short time & temporary lay-off. A fairly recent amendment to the Unemployment Insurance Act of 2001 is likely to bring much needed relief to affected employees.
CORONAVIRUS IMPACT IN THE WORKPLACE
Now that the World Health Organisation has declared the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a pandemic and the President has declared it a national disaster, employers are under increased pressure to take action: What precautionary measures should be taken, what forms of leave apply, how must employees be accommodated, quarantine, how does one deal with a slowdown in business, etc?
MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE FROM 1 MARCH 2020
The national minimum wage (NMW), as well as minimum wages in some other sectors, will increase with effect from 1 March 2020.
FIXED-TERM CONTRACTS AND SEVERANCE PAY
Is an employee whose fixed-term contract comes to an end entitled to severance pay?
MINIMUM WAGE IN WHOLESALE & RETAIL SECTOR – CORRECTION
The minimum wages for the Wholesale & Retail that were published in the Government Gazette on 2 August 2019 were incorrect. These have now been corrected in a ‘Correction Notice’ dated 14 October 2019. The corrections have retrospective effect from 2 August 2019.
PAYMENT FOR SUNDAY 16 JUNE & MONDAY 17 JUNE
This year 16 June (Youth Day) falls on a Sunday. This means that Monday, 17 June, is also a public holiday. The question has again arisen what employees should be paid.
ELECTION DAY LIKE ANY OTHER PUBLIC HOLIDAY
Employers are reminded that the upcoming Election Day on Wednesday, 8 May 2019, has been declared a public holiday throughout the Republic of South Africa and that it should be treated the same as any other public holiday.
MINIMUM WAGE IN WHOLESALE & RETAIL SECTOR (MARCH 2019)
Employers were expecting the minimum wage rates in the Wholesale and Retail Sector to be increased with effect from 1 March 2019 – this did not happen.
DOMESTIC WORKER MINIMUM WAGE EFFECTIVE 3 DECEMBER 2018
The minimum wages in the Domestic Worker Sector will increase with effect from 3 December 2018.
NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE EFFECTIVE 1 JANUARY 2019
The national minimum wage (NMW) has been signed into law. Effective 1 January 2019. What exactly does this mean to employers and employees?
NEW MINIMUM RATES FOR HOSPITALITY – WHAT ABOUT THE NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE?
The minimum wage rates in the hospitality sector have been increased with effect from 1 July 2018. The minimum rates are still below the National Minimum Wage (NMW) which is expected to be implemented during the course of 2018. How will employers be affected?
DOMESTIC WORKER MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE EFFECTIVE 1 JANUARY 2018
The minimum wages in the Domestic Worker Sector will increase with effect from 1 January 2018.
COSATU PROTEST ACTION ON 27 SEPTEMBER 2017
Cosatu gave notice to Nedlac of their intention to embark on protest action on Wednesday, 27 September 2017. The main thrust of this action relates to so-called state capture.
RECORDING OF CONVERSATIONS WITHOUT CONSENT
Question: May face to face conversations be recorded without consent?