Labour lawyers and the laws on labour in South Africa are in place to protect the rights of workers throughout the country regardless of the position held and who a person is working for, everyone is protected. The first step for someone who feels they are, or have been treated unfairly by an employer is to find legal advice and get to know their rights. Overtime, wages, working conditions, sexual harassment and unfair dismissal are among the many issues related to this area and those who feel that they maybe in an illegal working environment or that a certain employer maybe involved in illegal activities need to find a good attorney for advice.
Of course the best labour lawyers who know the laws on labour inside out for South Africa do not come cheap so lower income earners may consider joining a company that can offer inexpensive legal help such as legal wise. For those not familiar with the CCMA (Commission for Concilliation, Mediation and Arbitration) they are an independent statutory body, providing information on good labour practice. They have offices in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth and other regions around the country and if you belong to a trade union, your representative will be able to help you with any case you feel may need to progress to a conciliation hearing with the CCMA.
With retrenchments being on the rise in tough economic times it is an advantage for those affected to get more educated on the law related to be sure they have or are being retrenched fairly by an employee. Many companies will try and get away with letting an employee go with the minimum amount of fuss and hassle. If you belong to a trade union, be a little cautious if you suspect you are being retrenched unfairly yet your union representative informs you that everything is above board. It is always advisable to seek advice from professional labour lawyers for piece of mind when it comes to the laws related to labour.