The Department of Employment and Labour has confirmed a new National Minimum Wage of R30,23 per hour effective 1 March 2026, published in Government Gazette No. 54075. The increase applies economy-wide, including farm and domestic workers, with EPWP workers at R16,62 per hour and updated learnership allowances. Employers must ensure compliance to avoid penalties and enforcement action.

The Constitutional Court’s Van Wyk judgment reshapes South Africa’s parental-leave framework under the BCEA and UIA, requiring equal treatment for all parents and prompting major compliance, cost, and policy challenges. Employers must now reassess paid-leave benefits, align with interim provisions effective 3 October 2025, and balance equity with sustainability through lawful consultation, capped-benefit models, and strategic HR planning.

LAC upholds 2015 restraint of trade: Jones v Compendium confirms enforceability where no clear novation exists, safeguarding employer interests.