Legal updates and opinions
News / News
Update: adoption leave and commissioning parental leave: update to UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACT 63 OF 2001
by Jacques van Wyk, Director; Andre van Heerden, Senior Associate; and Michiel Heyns, Senior Associate
The President of the Republic of South Africa has issued a proclamation (“Proclamation”) bringing into operation provisions of two Acts relating to Adoption and Commissioning Parental leave.
The provisions that have come into operation amend the Unemployment Insurance 63 of 2001 (“UI Act”) with effect of 1 April 2020, specifically to UIF benefits for employees who make use of ‘adoption benefits’ and ‘commissioning parental benefits’. The provisions regarding ‘parental benefits’ have already come into effect on 1 November 2019.
With effect of 1 January 2020 the Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997 (“BCEA”) was amended to provide for parental leave, adoptions leave and commissioning parental leave. A summary of the leave provisions can be found at here.
Importantly, there is no statutory entitlement (as per the amendments to the BCEA) to paid parental leave, adoption leave and / or commissioning parental leave. Rather, much like maternity leave, benefits can be obtained from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (“UIF”) (as per the UI Act). The purpose of the Proclamation, and amendment to the UI Act, was to bring into operation the last remaining provisions to allow employees to claim such benefits from the UIF.
Latest News
When the clock starts ticking…… Why cross-border data breach response demands more than good intentions
by Ahmore Burger-Smidt, Director and Head of Regulatory, and Tebogo Sibidla, Director Picture this. A retailer with operations spanning southern [...]
Are raising fees similar to interest? The Supreme Court of Appeal says yes
by Doelie Lessing, Director and Head of Tax and Private Wealth, and Luke Magerman, Senior Associate In our article published [...]
The Competition Commission’s Rural and Township Economy Project – Be well advised to sit up and listen
by Ahmore Burger-Smidt, Director and Head of Regulatory, and Boitumelo Khwene, Candidate Attorney What the Report Is On 3 September [...]
The Regulator is Watching: New Enforcement Signals for POPIA and PAIA Compliance
by Ahmore Burger-Smidt, Director and Head of Regulatory, Armand Swart, Director and Hlonelwa Lutuli, Associate. The Information Regulator (Regulator) has [...]
Are your employees’ wearables creating a new governance blind spot?
by Tebogo Sibidla, Director Over the past decade, organisations have invested heavily in securing workplace technology. Laptops, smartphones, cloud applications [...]
Interviewing for survival: When competitive interviews during retrenchment are fair
by Bradley Workman-Davies, Director Employers undertaking restructuring exercises are frequently faced with a practical dilemma: where the new organisational structure [...]
