The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) has condemned the Department of Employment and Labour for gazetting a new Code of Good Practice on Dismissal on 22 August without Parliamentary scrutiny or public consultation. In a statement, the federation said the move “tramples on hard-won labour rights” and ignores submissions from SAFTU and 30 other organisations.

SAFTU argues the code weakens due-process safeguards by allowing “smaller employers” to use less formal disciplinary procedures and by letting bosses bypass rules if they can “justify” doing so. It warns that provisions permitting dismissal after “a single instance of serious misconduct” will fuel arbitrary sackings.

General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi called the gazette “a direct assault on worker rights” and urged all unions to reject the “loopholes for bosses.” The federation demands the notice be withdrawn, tabled before Parliament, and subjected to at least 90 days of provincial public hearings, pledging protests alongside the Scrap Labour Law Amendments Coalition until its demands are met.