Fundamentals of Labour Law and Employee Relations

Master South African Labour Law Under Current Legislative Frameworks

Platform:

Online

In-class

Date	Venue	Duration
22 - 23 September 2026	Sandton, Gauteng	2 Days
05 - 06 November 2026	Sandton, Gauteng	2 Days

Course Introduction

The aim of this Fundamentals of Labour Law and Employee Relations course is to equip candidates to develop insights and expertise into the ways to ensure effective application and implementation of the Labour Law in the workplace. It is specifically designed to introduce participants to the principles of labour law both for individuals and labour collectives and furthermore the international labour standards in terms of conventions and recommendations will be introduced. The overarching aim is for participants to have a good grasp of the basic principles of labour law in South Africa and the ability to apply that law to resolve social and workplace challenges.

Course Objectives

The specific outcomes participants will have the opportunity to achieve:

An understanding of the historical origins of labour law in South Africa
An understanding of the legal framework for labour in South African law, including current legislative developments
The ability to reflect critically on the place of labour law within the South African Constitutional framework
The ability to determine the relevance or otherwise of specific pieces of labour legislation and/or the common law to factual scenarios
The ability to utilise the legal framework for labour law to predict likely case outcomes in labour disputes
An understanding of how labour law intersects with various fields of law

Who should attend?

HR Managers/Officers
Practitioners
IR Managers/Officers
Managers
Supervisors
Shop Stewards

Training Methodology

Our diverse instructional approaches ensure effective learning:

– Lectures & Presentations: Engage with expert-driven, stimulating content.
– Course Material: Access well-crafted supporting resources.
– Group Work: Collaborate on discussions and case studies for practical insights.
– Workshops & Role-Play: Participate in immersive, scenario-based activities.
– Practical Application: Focus on applying theoretical knowledge in real situations.
– Post-Training Support: Receive extensive support after training for skill implementation.

Training Outline

Module One: Labour Legislations

Labour Law aims to concentrate the inequality of power between employers and employees. Participants will be equipped with a thorough knowledge of the principles of Labour law in practice.
Introduction to labour law in South Africa
Origins, development, and philosophy of labour law regulation in South Africa
Basic Conditions of Employment
Description of the main labour law statutes and comparison of the courts processes that labour disputes can be taken to, including awareness of the Labour Law Amendment Bill (Government Gazette No. 54220, 26 February 2026) — the most comprehensive review of South Africa's employment legislation in more than a decade, amending the LRA, BCEA, and Employment Equity Act
Description of the statutory bodies that affect the development of labour law
Explanation of the employment relationship, who is party to it and what their duties are under labour law
Individual Labour Law
Contracts
Dismissals
Unfair labour Practice
Dispute Resolution
Employment Equity
Collective Labour Law
Freedom of Association
Organisational Rights
Collective bargaining and its regulations
Industrial Action

Module Two: The Employment Contract, Basic Conditions of Employment and Termination of Employment

Learn about the individual employment contract
Identify the elements and procedures of the individual contract of employment
Review the duties of employers and employees
Interpret the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, including the current earnings threshold of R269,600.90 per annum (R22,466.74 per month), effective 1 May 2026

Module Three: Workplace Discipline and Automatically Unfair Dismissals

Learn about workplace discipline and what constitutes an unfair dismissal
Discuss general principles of discipline in the workplace, applying the current Code of Good Practice: Dismissal (effective September 2025, which replaced the previous Schedule 8 framework)
Identify the various grounds that constitute a dismissal in law
Complete a document outlining the disciplinary procedure for a functional company
Differentiate between a normal dismissal and automatically unfair dismissal

Module Four: Dismissal for Misconduct and Poor Performance or Incapacity

Learn about dismissal for misconduct and poor performance or incapacity
Analyse whether a dismissal for misconduct has a fair reason
Analyse whether a dismissal for misconduct has followed a correct procedure
Identify what constitutes poor work performance and when it is fair to dismiss an employee on these grounds
Explain ill health or injury and when it is fair to dismiss someone on these grounds

Module Five: Dismissal for Operational Requirements, Closures, Mergers and Sale of Business

Learn about dismissal for operational requirements, closures, mergers, and sale of business
Identify what constitutes an operational requirement in terms of employment law
Articulate the requirements for fairness in dismissals for operational requirements
Investigate the effect of a business transfer on employees in terms of employment law, be it under normal or insolvent circumstances
Recommend what information should be prepared for a retrenchment consultation

Module Six: Unfair Labour Practice and Employment Equity

Learn about unfair labour practice and employment equity
Outline the common examples of what constitutes unfair labour practices
Identify the most common forms of unfair discrimination in the workplace
Explain how claims of unfair discrimination in the workplace should be resolved
Articulate how the principle of affirmative action should be implemented in the workplace, including the Employment Equity Amendment Act's mandatory five-year sectoral numerical targets under Section 15A, covering 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2030 across 18 national economic sectors, disability employment targets now increased from 2% to 3%, and the requirement for Employment Equity Compliance Certificates for employers seeking to do business with the State

Module Seven: Collective Labour Law and Industrial Action

Collective labour law and industrial action in South Africa
Outline the general principles in relation to collective labour law
Identify the agents in the bargaining process and explain how this process is conducted
Discuss the nature and importance of collective agreements in terms of employment law
Illustrate the legal effect of and potential remedies for different forms of industrial action
Complete part of a strike contingency plan

Module Eight: Dispute Resolutions and CCMA Procedures

Learn about dispute resolution and the various courts and commissions that are involved
Recall the different types of disputes that may occur in labour law
Identify the various mechanisms through which labour law disputes may be resolved, aware of current CCMA case law such as De Wet v CCMA, which confirmed that delays in taking disciplinary action are not automatically unfair and that fairness depends on context, the nature of the allegations, and employer justifications
Illustrate an understanding of the role of the CCMA in employment dispute resolutions

Module Nine: Discipline & Disciplinary Action

This module enables delegates to conduct proper disciplinary hearings and to administer disciplinary principles in a fair and consistent manner. It will lead delegates through the required procedural and substantive aspects pertaining to disciplinary action, applying the current Code of Good Practice: Dismissal (effective September 2025, which replaced the previous Schedule 8 framework).
Determination of the employees and employers' rights regarding discipline at work
Effective structures and systems to create a good organisational climate
Identification of various disciplinary offences and application of appropriate sanctions
Most appropriate methods to apply equity and non-discrimination in the workplace
Discussion of the essential elements of organisational Code of Professional Conduct
Determination of Internal Regulations Policy that regulates employee relations
How to draft the allegations/charges/notice to attend a hearing
Understand all fairness and equity principles
Create a better understanding of required procedures during hearings
Preparation for the hearing
Procedure and conduct during the disciplinary hearing
Procedure and conduct during the appeal hearing
Be able to prepare for such hearings
Understanding and complying with the duty to keep record
Chairing the hearing
Conducting and managing the hearing
Implement procedure to handle non-dismissible offences
Hear pleadings
Mitigating & aggravating circumstances
Take a decision as to sanction
Inform employee of and record decisions
Ensure that proceedings and decisions are recorded
Fun Role Play of a Disciplinary Hearing

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FAQs – Fundamentals of Labour Law and Employee Relations

Develop practical labour law and employee relations skills, covering employment legislation, workplace rights, disciplinary procedures, dispute resolution, compliance, and effective employee management.

What topics are covered in the Fundamentals of Labour Law and Employee Relations course?

The course covers statutory labour frameworks (LRA, BCEA, EEA), employment contracts, progressive discipline, initiating and chairing disciplinary hearings, managing poor performance (incapacity), CCMA and Bargaining Council dispute resolution, and managing grievance procedures.

Who should attend the Fundamentals of Labour Law and Employee Relations course?

This course is designed for HR practitioners, employee relations specialists, line managers, supervisors, department heads, union representatives, and business owners responsible for managing staff, handling workplace discipline, or maintaining fair labor practices.

How does this course help prevent unfair dismissal claims and CCMA disputes?

Delegates learn to ensure both substantive and procedural fairness when managing workplace misconduct and incapacity, draft compliant charge sheets, conduct legally sound disciplinary hearings, and assemble bulletproof evidence files to withstand CCMA scrutiny.

How long is the Fundamentals of Labour Law and Employee Relations course?

The programme is structured as an intensive 2 to 3-day practical masterclass featuring mock disciplinary hearings, practical charge-sheet drafting exercises, interactive case law reviews, and step-by-step dispute resolution simulations.

What practical tools and skills will delegates gain from this masterclass?

Delegates gain practical tools including disciplinary hearing checklists, standardized warning templates, performance management plans, charge-sheet frameworks, and guidelines for managing workplace conflict, grievances, and trade union engagements smoothly.

Can Prospen Africa deliver this course as customized in-house training?

Yes. Prospen Africa can tailor the masterclass around your organization’s specific internal HR policies, disciplinary codes, sector-specific bargaining council agreements, and organizational employee relations challenges.

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Fundamentals of Labour Law and Employee Relations

Master South African Labour Law Under Current Legislative Frameworks

Course Introduction

Course Objectives

Who should attend?

Training Methodology

Training Outline

Our Categories

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Success Stories

Business Continuity Management

GRAP 104 revised

GRAP 104

FAQs – Fundamentals of Labour Law and Employee Relations

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