MONDAY, 10.00AM
THE South African Chamber of Business (Sacob) told a Parliamentary hearing into the Basic Conditions of Employment Bill on Monday that although it could handle a reduction in the work week from 46 to 45 hours, a further reduction – provided for in a schedule – would be unacceptable.
So would be time and a half for Sunday work when Sunday is a normal working day: Sacob’s director of labour affairs, Gerrie Bezuidenhout, told the committee the provision was outdated, as South Africa is not a Christian country.
Sacob told the committee in its view the Bill would increase unemployment through such provisions as an increase in overtime rates.
MONDAY, 10.00AM
A DEAL between government and labour at the weekend may have saved the Basic Conditions of Employment Bill, due for public hearings to begin on Monday in the Parliamentary Labour Portfolio Committee.
An amendment to the Bill will stipulate a 45-hour week as a core right that cannot be varied — longer than Cosatu’s demand fora 40-hour week, but barring employers from making private deals beyond a 45-hour week.