Mandatory Workplace Vaccination Polices: So it Begins…
On 21 January 2022 the CCMA delivered its findings in the unfair dismissal dispute of Mulderij v The Goldrush Group (case number: GAJB-24054-21), where it confirmed that the dismissal of an employee pursuant to a refusal to adhere to an employer’s mandatory workplace vaccination policy (“MWVP”) may be considered substantively fair. It is the first more...
Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in the workplace
On 11 June 2021, the Department of Employment and Labour published an Amended Consolidated Direction on Occupational Health and Safety Measures in Certain Workplaces (“Directions”). The Directions provide various guidelines to employers pertaining to social distancing, the wearing of cloth masks, COVID-19 symptom screening and the importance of adequate ventilation in the workplace. Most importantly, more...
Is the Covid-19 vaccination compulsory for employees?
According to recent reports in respect of South Africa’s planned national roll-out of the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) vaccine, it was widely anticipated that the country was due to receive its first batch of vaccines during January 2021, with a further, second batch to follow during February 2021. There are several reasons why individuals, specifically employees venturing more...
COVID -19 Update – Alert Level 1 and the Easing of Restrictions.
On 16 September 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the easing of the risk-adjusted strategy of the national lockdown to Alert Level 1, which commenced at midnight on 20 September 2020. Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, published the gazetted Alert Level 1 Regulations on 18 September 2020 (“the Regulations”) more...
The long walk to freedom: the ‘cans’ and ‘still cant’s’ of the Alert Level 2 Regulations
On Tuesday, 18 August 2020, at 0h00, the South African national lockdown was downgraded from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2. Regulations prescribing the legal parameters of the Alert Level 2 restrictions and allowances were published on the same day. For many South Africans, the Alert Level 2 Regulations (“the Regulations”) provide the first more...
COVID-19 Update – Alert Level 3 Stays in place (with further restrictions) as we prepare for “the storm”:
His address did not declare an escalation of the alert level currently in place, as widely expected, but rather confirmed that whilst the Alert Level 3 Regulations would, for now, remain in force, that these Regulations would be further limited and refined in certain respects. The increase in the degree of restriction under the Level 3 Regulations was justified by the President as being necessary to curb the impending storm predicted early on by experts advising government
Virtual Sports Events
We are slowly emerging from lockdown and the cabin fever is abating. We can leave our homes now, but can only lumber our lonely way about, hoping not to crash into a pole when our glasses fog up from wearing a mask. And we can never, ever, exercise with anyone else. Athletic competition in groups more...
The Fortnight Ahead: Amendments to the Lockdown Regulations following its Extension:
Following the declaration by President on 15 April 2020 that the national lockdown will be extended by two weeks, various amendments to the existing lockdown Regulations were published on 16 April 2020 (“the Amendments”). These amendments will govern private and commercial transactions and restrictions until the lockdown is lifted, which for now is set as being on 01 May 2020. This article will briefly discuss the most relevant of these amendments and their impact.
COVID-19: Price gouging, panic buying and the spotlight on suppliers: the Minister of Trade and Industry has spoken
COVID-19: Price gouging, panic buying and the spotlight on suppliers: the Minister of Trade and Industry has spoken
Covid-19: Health and safety in the workplace
The Occupational Health and Safety Act, No. 85 of 1993 (“the Act”) aims to ensure the wellbeing, health and safety of employees in the workplace. In light of the seriousness of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important to consider the effects the spread of the virus may have on the South African employer and specifically more...
COVID-19- a National State of Disaster: What do the regulations mean for me?
On 15 March 2020, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, declared a national state of disaster, citing special circumstances warranting such declaration in terms of Section 27(1) of the Act. Furthermore, Dr Mmaphaka Tau, in his capacity as the Head of the National Disaster Management Centre, classifying the COVID-19 more...
Labelling for chemical safety and compliance
Multiple departments and pieces of legislation are involved and apply to the labelling of hazardous chemicals in South Africa. The departments of Trade and Industry, Environmental Affairs, Transport, Labour Dept and the South African Bureau of Standards interact in the administration of chemical management, but Labour is leading the legislative reform that is required to more...