
ConCourt clarifies high bar for constructive dismissal claims
Employees cannot resign based on anticipated workplace changes and claim constructive dismissal. Intolerability must be proved – and internal remedies must be exhausted first.

Employees cannot resign based on anticipated workplace changes and claim constructive dismissal. Intolerability must be proved – and internal remedies must be exhausted first.

The Labour Appeal Court confirms that termination – even for misconduct – does not extinguish a restraint of trade, unless tainted by fraud or bad faith.

Recent COIDA amendments overhaul workplace safety, claims, and compliance rules, creating new obligations for employers and expanded rights for employees.

The Labour Court weighs in on remote work, sick leave, and the moment an employer’s response crossed the line into constructive dismissal.

The proposed changes limit employees earning over R1.8m a year to compensation – capped at their annual salary – for unfair dismissal claims.

From stronger retrenchment safeguards to the inclusion of gig workers under formal labour protections, proposed amendments could redefine the future of work for millions of South Africans.

A valid work permit may be absent, but fair labour procedures must still be followed.

The proper channels for resolving employment-related grievances are the statutory dispute-resolution bodies, not social media, says the High Court.

The DA’s court challenge to the Employment Equity Amendment Act highlights not only constitutional questions but also the risk that inflexible sectoral targets and under-resourced bureaucracy will penalise even deserving employers.

National labour forums have jurisdiction when the employment contract is governed by South African law and connected to a local public entity.

A recent judgment suggests employers may lose the right to enforce restraints of trade when they terminate staff for misconduct.

The amendments to the Employment Equity Act will come into force on 1 January. Employers must navigate new compliance requirements and prepare for the road ahead.