South Africa: Labour Legislation Could Lead to Losses for Employees, Employers and the Economy

According to recent surveys and reports, South Africa has some 13 million employed people, with at least 1.2 million employed on a limited duration contract. An industry index released at the beginning of the year revealed that from 2000 to 2012, the number of permanent jobs declined by 1.9 million, whereas the number of temporary jobs increased by 2.6 million. In addition, temporary jobs presently account for 30.5% of all jobs in South Africa.

It is, therefore, clear that a large portion of the population are currently employed in the temporary sector and that most new job opportunities are found within this category. However, should the current changes and proposed amendments to labour legislation come to pass, there will in all likelihood be a drastic reduction in overall employment within South Africa.

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