Climate, Ozempic and the Social Wage: Why South African employment relations must expand beyond the traditional bargaining agenda.

Climate, Sport, Health and the Social Wage – Building a Sustainable Employment Relations Agenda

The themes – climate, sport, GLP‑1 drugs and health, plus South Africa’s own political “mixed bag” – all converge on one question: What does a sustainable social wage look like in this country?​

Climate change will hit African workers and communities hardest through food insecurity, heat stress, water scarcity, and infrastructure damage. For South African employers, this means:​

• Heightened health and safety obligations, especially for outdoor and manual workers exposed to extreme heat and weather.

• Disruption to operations and attendance as climate shocks affect transport, housing, and local economies.

• Pressure for “just transition” arrangements in carbon-intensive sectors, where workers will demand concrete guarantees on retraining, redeployment, and income security rather than vague promises.

In parallel, sport and health trends are reshaping worker expectations. Mega-events like the 2026 Football World Cup and future Rugby World Cups underscore the commercial power of sport, while the Middle East’s growing influence in global sports raises new questions about player rights, contracts, and post-career security. For South Africa, a multiple rugby world champion with a strong sports labour market, that translates into:​​

• The need for more structured career-transition programmes for professional athletes and semi-professionals, who often enter the mainstream labour market with limited formal work experience in their 30s.

• New legal and ER challenges around image rights, sponsorship, cross-border contracts, and the role of agents.

On the health side, the rapid development of GLP‑1 weight-loss drugs and the broader longevity agenda (the possibility of people living to 100–120 in good health) will change workforce demographics over time. Employers will face:​

• Longer working lives and more multi‑stage careers, requiring flexible retirement, second careers, and phased work models.

• New benefit design questions: how to structure medical aid, wellness, and disability benefits in a world of longer lifespans and new therapies.

• Ethical debates about performance enhancement, health data, and discrimination, as pharmacological and AI tools become more powerful.

Back home, South Africa’s coalition politics and ongoing corruption concerns in policing and justice directly affect employment relations. Weak enforcement of the rule of law and crime against businesses and workers raise costs and erode trust. At the same time, social partners are expected to help “hold the centre” through credible collective bargaining, sectoral social accords, anti-corruption commitments, and joint initiatives to fight unemployment.​

For ER practitioners and business leaders, a forward-looking agenda in this environment should include:

• Climate-linked labour strategies (heat policies, just transition agreements, and climate-resilient work design).

• Integrated health, wellness, and longevity policies that anticipate multi‑decade careers.

• Stronger ethical frameworks around data, AI, enhancement, and fairness in the workplace.

• Active participation in sectoral social compacts to tackle unemployment and corruption as shared risks, not externalities.

The Annual Employment Conference #AEC2026 brings together South Africa’s leading labour, HR, and employment-relations experts for a deep dive into the most urgent challenges facing employers in a changing world of work.

2026's conference promises to unpack the economic, technological, and legislative forces reshaping the workplace, offering practical insights on navigating organisational change, managing workforce risks, strengthening compliance, and preparing for the next wave of policy reform. Delegates will gain forward-looking guidance from top practitioners, case-based analysis of emerging employment trends, and strategic tools to build resilient, future-ready workplaces. Register now: https://www.globalbusiness.co.za/gbs-event-details/annual-employment-conference-2026

View our upcoming events: Upcoming Events and Qualifications, like AI Compass Capacitation Programme 2026, B-BBEE Session 1: Blueprint for Bold Transformation, Annual Employment Conference 2026 (#AEC2026), Higher Occupational Certificate: HRM Administrator NQF5, Advanced Occupational Certificate: HRM Officer (NQF 6), and Advanced Occupational Certificate: HRM Officer (NQF 6).

*All workshops are offered as customised in-house training that can be presented virtually or on-site.

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