Young South Africans starting holiday jobs this festive season should read their contracts and know their rights, The South African reported. The publication set out five steps for first-time seasonal workers.
The report said a temporary job still comes with rights. These cover working hours, pay, overtime and public holidays.
The first step is to read any contract fully before signing it. Workers should check what the role involves, how much they will be paid and their working hours.
Pay must be at least the minimum wage, the report said. The contract should also say who the worker can ask for training or help. Overtime and pay on public holidays should be checked too.
The second step is to check every payslip. Employers must give workers a payslip that shows hours worked, the wage rate and any deductions. It should also show overtime hours.
Workers under the age of 18 are not allowed to work overtime, according to the report.
If a payslip has mistakes, such as wrong deductions or low pay, workers can report it. They can go to the Department of Employment and Labour or the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
The third step is to know the limits on working time. The report quoted Labour Guide, which said: “The maximum normal working time allowed … is 45 hours weekly.”
Labour Guide said this means nine hours a day for a five-day week, not counting lunch. For people who work more than five days a week, it is eight hours a day.
Overtime is voluntary and must be agreed between the employer and the worker, ideally in writing. The limit is three hours a day and 10 hours a week. Overtime must be paid at 1.5 times the normal wage.
The fourth step deals with public holidays, such as Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Some seasonal workers may be asked to work on these days.
A worker who does not work on a public holiday that falls on a normal working day must still get a full day’s pay. A worker who does work on that day should be paid double the normal rate.
The report said employers cannot fire a worker for refusing to work on a public holiday.
The fifth step is to ask questions. The South African said workers should speak to a manager, the HR department or a colleague when they are unsure about their job.
The publication said problems such as underpayment, discrimination and poor safety may go unchecked if workers stay quiet. Asking questions can help protect their rights, it said.
The report said holiday work can help young people build a CV, earn money and learn new skills. In some cases, a seasonal job can turn into a permanent one, it said.
Source: this article is based on reporting by The South African. Image: The South African. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Business desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Anelisa Nkuna covers business and money news for Tzaneen Voice. Anelisa reports on the rand, fuel prices, interest rates, jobs, Eskom, Transnet, farming and company results. The aim is simple: explain what the numbers mean for household budgets, small businesses and workers in South Africa.