Article 39/2022

What are the remedies available to a successful applicant in an automatically unfair dismissal or unfair discrimination dispute?

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  • In an automatically unfair dismissal dispute, s194(3) of the LRA is applicable, entailing same to be just and equitable in all circumstances but not more than 24 months’ remuneration
  • In respect of unfair discrimination, s50(2) of the EEA is applicable, entailing same being just and equitable in all circumstances, including compensation and damages

BMW (SA) (Pty) Ltd v NUMSA (2020) 31 SALLR 119 (LAC); ARB Electrical Wholesalers v Hibbert (2015) 26 SALLR 14 (LAC)

Compensation is akin to a non-patrimonial delictual claim and the principles to be taken into account when awarding compensation, as already set out in article 38/2022, are to be taken into account.

What alternative claim(s) exist in delict to a statutory automatically unfair dismissal, a statutory constructive dismissal and a statutory unfair discrimination claim?

The scenario is as follows: in terms of a collective agreement between an employers’ organisation and various trade unions, provision is made for the accreditation of medical schemes by the relevant bargaining council, so that employees may enjoy the benefits of selecting and joining a scheme to which their employers contribute.

The labour court is afforded jurisdiction ito s77(1), read with ss77(3), of the BCEA to hear and determine any matter concerning a contract of employment, irrespective of whether a basic condition of employment constitutes a term of contract.