Build One South Africa (BOSA) marks Workers’ Day by recognising the enduring importance of the labour rights secured through decades of struggle in South Africa. Protections such as collective bargaining, minimum standards, and safeguards against unfair dismissal remain essential to a functioning and fair labour market.
However, the structure of the economy and the nature of work have evolved. Many of the inequalities facing workers today are less visible, but no less consequential.
Young people entering the labour market, as well as women and black professionals, continue to experience uneven outcomes in hiring and remuneration. These disparities are often reinforced through practices that lack transparency, including the use of salary history in setting pay and the absence of clear salary ranges in job advertisements.
These dynamics reinforce and deepen inequalities over time. When prior earnings are used to determine future pay, individuals who started at a disadvantage may continue to earn below their market value, regardless of their qualifications or performance.
In this context, BOSA believes that advancing justice for employees requires targeted, modern reforms that address how the labour market operates in practice today.
Just yesterday, BOSA announced the gazetting of the Fair Pay Bill in Parliament. The Bill proposes amendments to the Employment Equity Act aimed at improving fairness and transparency in hiring and remuneration. The proposed reforms include:
- Prohibiting the use of salary history in determining remuneration, to ensure that pay is based on the requirements of the role and the candidate’s capabilities.
- Requiring employers to disclose salary ranges in job advertisements, improving transparency for job seekers and reducing information asymmetry.
- Strengthening the application of the principle of equal pay for work of equal value.
The gazetting of the Bill initiates a 30-day public participation process. BOSA encourages stakeholders, including employers, workers, and civil society, to engage constructively on the proposed reforms.
Workers’ Day provides an opportunity not only to reflect on past progress, but also to assess whether current frameworks adequately respond to present-day challenges.
BOSA’s view is that ensuring fairness in the labour market now requires greater transparency, clearer standards, and mechanisms that prevent the unintended reinforcement of historical inequality.
Media Enquiries:
Roger Solomons
BOSA Spokesperson
072 299 3551