Compensation for fired workers

Thousands of workers dismissed on three month notices will be entitled to compensation for termination of their contracts if the labour amendment bill gazetted last Friday becomes law.

Legal experts also say the proposed new law could get them back their jobs as they say the July 17 2015, Supreme Court ruling that triggered job losses.

Clause 5 of the bill says those who lose jobs on contract termination are entitled to minimum retrenchment benefits that include one month salary for every two years of service.

This will apply to both retrenches in general and workers whose contracts were terminated on or after July 17 with employers required to pay up no later than the date when the notice of termination of employment takes effect.