Employment Laws Changes: What Employers and Employees Need to Know
The Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), Employment Equity Act (EEA), and Labour Relations Act (LRA) are set for significant changes in April 2025, impacting working hours, wages, and employment contracts. Employers and employees must prepare for these updates to remain compliant.
Key BCEA Updates: Higher Income Threshold and Working Hours Exemptions
From 1 April 2025, employees earning above R261,748.45 per year will be excluded from several BCEA provisions, including:
Working hours regulations (Sections 9–12)
Overtime and compressed workweeks
Rest periods and meal breaks
Rules for Sunday and night work
This threshold also affects employees’ rights under Section 9A (daily wage calculations), Section 73A (claims for non-payment), and Section 83A (presumption of employment status).
Impact on Employment Equity and Labour Relations Acts
The same earnings threshold will apply to:
Section 10 of the EEA – Governing disputes on unfair discrimination
Sections 198A–198D of the LRA – Affecting temporary employment services, fixed-term contracts, and part-time employment
Updated Minimum Wages for Cleaning, Wholesale, and Retail Sectors
As of 1 March 2025, new minimum wage rates apply to the contract cleaning sector and the wholesale and retail industry. Additionally, businesses hiring contract cleaning companies must ensure that payments allow compliance with minimum wage laws, or they risk liability under Section 200B of the LRA.
