Category

What’s the Normal Retirement Age? It’s Complicated, as The Plumber’s Tale Proves

“When cognitive capacities are the focus, the 70s are the new 50s.” (IMF) Fake news articles suggesting that South Africa was implementing a new standard retirement age policy, supposedly from 30 May this year, recently went viral on social media. […]

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Restraint of Trade: Fatal Vagueness Means no Father Christmas to the Rescue

“The legal principles, as I understand them, do not confer on me the powers of Father Christmas. I cannot rescue the un-rescuable.” (Quoted in the judgment below) We all want loyal, competent staff who remain motivated to stay with us […]

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Fixed Term Contracts: A Guide for Employers and Employees

It’s vital for both employers and employees to understand the practical and legal differences between permanent and fixed term employment arrangements. What is a fixed term contract? A fixed term contract is a temporary employment arrangement with a specified start […]

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Employers and Employees Take Note: New Earnings Threshold from 1 April 2025

From 1 April 2025, the earnings threshold under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) will increase, impacting not only the BCEA but also employee protections under the Labour Relations Act (LRA) and Employment Equity Act (EEA).  Broadly speaking, employees […]

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Effective 1 March 2025: New National Minimum Wage

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) for each “ordinary hour worked” has been increased from 1 March 2025 by 4.4% from R27,58 per hour to R28,79 per hour.  Domestic workers: Assuming a work month of 22 days x 8 hours per […]

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Employers: How to Avoid Paying Severance Pay on Retrenchment

“Only in our dreams are we free; the rest of the time we need wages.” (Terry Pratchett) Retrenching employees can be an expensive business. You’ll have to pay each employee a minimum of one week’s pay for each completed year […]

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Fired for not Working on the Sabbath

“One of the hallmarks of an enlightened egalitarian society is the right to freedom of religion.” (Extract from judgment below) Our courts do not tolerate unfair discrimination in the workplace, and employers need to tread particularly carefully when it comes […]

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Employers: It’s November Again. Must You Pay 13th Cheques?

“The best investment you will ever make are your employees” (Peter Drucker) As the end of the year approaches, many employees are eagerly awaiting their 13th cheque or year-end bonus. However, not every employer is in a position to pay […]

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Protect Your Employees from Harassment and Abuse – or Pay the Price

“It takes leadership to improve safety.” (Jackie Stewart, Formula 1 legend) One of your key duties as an employer is to create a working environment in which your employees are protected from harassment and abuse. As a recent High Court […]

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It’s Sick Leave Season – Can You Reject a Dodgy Doctor’s Sick Note?

“Many people including workers in South Africa do not have the wherewithal to determine between a qualified doctor, an unqualified doctor and one who is operating illegally. That is why there are regulatory and law enforcement bodies to whom suspicious […]

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We are open during Lock-Down!

Our legal team are available to consult with you via remote connection (Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp etc.) during the lock down period.

Please contact us for more details and let us know which date and time will suit you.

Tel/WhatsApp: 0824648701
Email: mimi@mkarstelattorneys.co.za
Skype address: mimi.karstel