It amends several pieces of legislation administered by the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) to reduce compliance burdens, clarify statutory provisions, address regulatory inconsistencies, and respond to technological changes.
Eramet, a pioneering force in the mining industry, has signed its first global agreement to establish a comprehensive social protection solution for its employees worldwide.
Known as Eramet Global Care, this agreement underscores the company's commitment to employee welfare and corporate social responsibility. It ensures that employees receive consistent benefits regardless of their location and promotes equity and solidarity within the organisation.
Law N°21.645, published on 29 December 2023, amended the Labour Code to strengthen maternity, paternity, and family life protections. It introduces a new regime for remote work and telecommuting under specific conditions.
On 26 January 2024, the National Director of Labour issued Dictamen N°67/1, providing legal interpretation and guidance on the law.
On 10 October 2023, Barilla, Italian excellence in the production of food products, announced the adoption of a new maternity and paternity leave policy, which will be implemented from 1 January 2024 worldwide.
The policy will guarantee 12 weeks of fully paid leave for each parent, regardless of gender, marital status, and sexual orientation.
On 25 October 2023, the Gauteng High Court stated that Sections 25, 25A, 25B, and 25C of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act 1997 (BCEA) relating to the minimum period of maternity, parental, adoption, and commissioning parental leave are invalid.
The Court found that these provisions unfairly discriminate between mothers and fathers and between parents whose child is born of the mother, as opposed to surrogacy or adoption parents, in violation of the rights to equality and dignity of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
The declaration of invalidity has to be confirmed by the Constitutional Court.
On 3 October 2023, Axa announced its new 'We Care' programme, a long-term project to create an inclusive and supportive corporate culture that is attentive to the health and well-being of employees.
It will apply to all of Axa's more than 110,000 employees worldwide across 51 countries.
On 9 October 2023, Crédit Agricole Group S.A. and UNI Global Union signed a new four-year agreementthat confirms the Group's focus on the protection of workers' rights in the workplace, their trade union and human rights, as well as its ongoing commitment to developing a fruitful social dialogue.
It applies to all 75.000 employees in 46 countries.
Veolia launched the new 'Veolia Cares' programme to ensure a standard basic level of social protection for the Group's 213,000 employees worldwide.
The initiative will guarantee all employees the same level of protection, even where there is no legal standard of reference to overcome geographical disparities in social protection.