COVID-19: On the day the lockdown is lifted... Will you have work for your employees?

COVID-19

ON THE DAY THE LOCKDOWN IS LIFTED…

…WILL YOU HAVE WORK FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES?

Dear fellow employer

We have previously communicated that the current State of Disaster and consequent lockdown have, in essence, suspended the application of relevant labour laws, and provided employers with a number of options on how to deal with employees who cannot render their services during this period, i.e. no-work, no-pay, reduced pay and other options.

However, the moment the State of Disaster and the lockdown are lifted, all these rights fall away. This implies, among others, that employees returning to work, will be entitled to full remuneration and other conditions of employment which existed prior to the lockdown.

The challenge you may face when that happens, is that although you won’t be able to simply switch on your business and continue to function as normal, your full staff complement will be present, and not having work for them, your overheads will immediately skyrocket, without the corresponding income through trade.

It is generally expected that the financial burden on employers will substantially increase during the immediate aftermath of the lockdown, and will probably continue for quite some time.

Addressing this issue when the lockdown is lifted will is simply be too late. You have to plan ahead and …

…. ACT NOW!

NEASA 24/7 NATIONAL HOTLINE: 086 016 3272
legalhotline@neasa.co.za

Regards

We are all in this together.
Privileged and challenged to be South African.