E-COMMERCE TRADING UNDER LOCKDOWN
The past week has arguably delivered one of the biggest changes during the ongoing lockdown with Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel gazetting new directions on 14 May 2020, allowing for the complete re-opening of e-commerce sales. The change does however not come without some restrictions, as retailers will continuingly not be allowed to sell tobacco and liquor. Despite South Africa being one of the only countries to shut down it's online trading during a lockdown...
2020: The Year to Embrace Digital
“There has been courage and solidarity. A very different South Africa and world awaits us. The greatest test will be our willingness to embrace change. Let us rise to meet this challenge”. – President Cyril Ramaphosa (13 May 2020). As we said goodbye to 2019 and made our new year’s resolutions for 2020, few of us could have predicted where we would find ourselves now. Our places of work, education and socialisation as we know them, will have a very different feeling for a long time to come....
Maximising your Skills Development during COVID-19
COVID-19 has brought a halt to many industries across South Africa and the world. In this present pandemic that we currently find ourselves in, is there anything positive to come out of the ashes? Lockdown does not mean lockout of your companies Work Place Skills Plan implementation. · If your company has submitted a Workplace Skills Plan, the implementation thereof is of significant importance for your Annual Training Report that needs to be submitted in 2021. What may have seemed far away,...
Union rights during lockdown
The national lockdown, and subsequent risk-adjusted strategy for economic activity, has had many clients’ question on what rights unions are entitled to during this time, and how such rights are to be exercised. We discuss the various union’s rights hereunder. Section 21 Unions are bound to exercise their rights in terms of Section 21 of the Labour Relations Act, as amended (hereinafter referred to as “the LRA”). Unions seeking rights in the workplace must first send a letter stating they seek...
SMME’s – Adapt & Thrive!
In a recent case study done by R Peters from the University of the Western Cape, and V Naicker from the University of South Africa it is clear that SMME’s are potential of great socio-economic significance in employment creation, closing the income inequality gap and alleviating poverty. Many of the recent births of small firms in developed countries may have been induced by poor economic conditions in general, and by high unemployment in particular. Very similar to South Africa we know today,...
DOMESTIC WORKERS AND THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN
The COVID-19 lockdown has had a devastating impact on the South African economy which has been felt by every industry in the labour market. One of the industries most impacted is domestic workers. Employers have been urged by the government to pay their employees’ full salary during lockdown, however many households find themselves in a financial position where they cannot afford to pay a domestic worker’s salary during lockdown. This has resulted in many domestic workers being placed on a...
COVID-19 and Consumer complaints
The normal that we are used to has completely changed. While everyone is navigating in unchartered waters, the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud is also doing their part in flattening the COVID-19 curve. The Consumer Goods and Services Ombud has mentioned that they are aware of the fact that the pandemic has a tremendous effect on the rendering of goods and services by suppliers and the cancellation thereof by consumers. The Consumer Goods and Services Ombud has brought some relief in dispute...
May you evict during lockdown?
The inability by the tenant’s to afford the cost of rent is on the increase as the lockdown period continues and the majority of the working population being unable to return to work. Questions relating to lapsed leases, non-payment/partial payment of rent and evictions of tenants have consequently become more prevalent. The rights and obligations of the landlord and tenant must, therefore, be weighed against the Level 4 Regulations which will be addressed in the queries received below. My...
NOW IS NOT A GOOD TIME TO RETRENCH
The COVID-19 Pandemic and consequent lockdown measures have resulted in many companies facing unprecedented times and experiencing many financial and other challenges, due to them being either: Unable to operate their business, as a result of the restrictions imposed during the lockdown, and subsequently unable to generate an income or provide work to their staff (cannot pay their salaries); orAble to operate their business, but at a severely reduced scale, and subsequently cannot provide...
Keeping it “simple”: A business’s guide to Level Four Lockdown
The current level four of lockdown has led to businesses being flooded with information regarding the newly implemented regulations. During this downpour of information, businesses are trying to keep head above water, between the news, social media and fake news. This article will provide a compact guide to level four of lockdown and the impact it will have on businesses. It is, however, no easy feat to try and summarize government regulations when the goalposts are being moved on an almost...