Labour Relations Can Be A Minefield

There have been many advances in labour law since the transition to majority rule, and handling a company’s labour relations has become both a vitally important task and a highly specialised one. Even prominent companies with their well-qualified HR team are increasingly discovering that they may need the services of a legal firm. They have learned how easy it can be, without in-depth knowledge, to contravene the labour laws and create a disruption of the normally harmonious labour relations.

Individuals too, when becoming the victims of poor labour relations, will often have an acute need for some professional legal help in order to successfully appeal against an unfair labour practice that resulted in inappropriate dismissal, reduction of income or other benefits. Under laws designed to protect employees and preserve good labour relations, there is a documented code of practice governing dismissal from which any deviation could result in a company being ordered to reinstate or to compensate a staff member.

The role of lawyers within the field of labour relations is certainly not confined to this type of intervention, however. Their experience extends to such routine, though crucial, tasks as providing assistance in the drafting of employment contracts and investigating allegations of discriminatory practices or sexual harassment in the workplace. The domain of modern labour relations in South Africa has become a veritable minefield that employers are finding increasingly dangerous to negotiate without competent, legally-qualified help.

On a large scale, maintenance of good labour relations may become contingent upon negotiation with a trade union or representation at a CCMA hearing. For both conflict resolution between employers and individuals and collective bargaining situations, the opportunity to preserve or restore acceptable labour relations may be lost without professional legal support. Good labour relations are the route to improved labour performance and the increased productivity that is a crucially important factor in the nation’s on-going efforts to achieve economic recovery.

To protect your company from a breakdown in labour relations may require legal support. Contact us, we are experienced and proven in all aspects of labour law.