Labour law, answered plainly
Short answers to the questions South African workers and employers ask most, each linked to a tool that does the work.
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Final pay calculator: leave, notice and severance
Work out what is owed when a job ends, under the BCEA.
How many warnings before dismissal in South Africa?
There is no fixed number. The law asks whether discipline was progressive and the sanction fair for the offence.
Can you dismiss an employee for absconding via SMS?
Sending a dismissal by SMS without trying to reach the employee first is risky and often found unfair.
CCMA referral deadline rules
Unfair dismissal: 30 days from the dismissal date. Unfair labour practice: 90 days. Unfair discrimination: 6 months.
What notice period does the BCEA require?
One week in the first 6 months, two weeks up to a year, and four weeks after a year of service.
What must be in my final pay? Leave and severance explained
Unused annual leave must be paid out. Severance of one week per completed year applies only to retrenchments.
National Minimum Wage 2026: R30.23 per hour
From 1 March 2026 the National Minimum Wage is R30.23 per ordinary hour worked.