The Labour Relations Act (LRA) is a comprehensive piece of legislation, particularly in South Africa, that governs the rights and obligations of employers, employees, and trade unions. Its main purposes include:
- Changing and regulating the law governing labour relations.
- Giving effect to constitutional provisions related to labour rights.
- Regulating organisational rights of trade unions.
- Promoting and facilitating collective bargaining at workplace and sectoral levels.
- Regulating the right to strike and lockouts in line with the Constitution.
- Promoting employee participation in decision-making through workplace forums.
- Providing simple procedures for resolving labour disputes via conciliation, mediation, and arbitration, including the establishment of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
- Establishing the Labour Court and Labour Appeal Court with exclusive jurisdiction over labour matters.
- Simplifying the registration and regulation of trade unions and employer organisations.
- Aligning with international labour obligations.
- Amending and repealing certain laws related to labour relations
The LRA aims to promote fair labour practices, protect workers' rights, and provide mechanisms to resolve disputes fairly. It applies broadly to employers, employees, trade unions, and employer organisations within South Africa
. In the United States, a similar foundational law is the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) of 1935, which protects private-sector employees' rights to organize, engage in collective bargaining, and take collective action such as strikes. It established the National Labor Relations Board to oversee these rights and address unfair labour practices
. In summary, the Labour Relations Act is a key legal framework designed to regulate labour relations, protect workers' rights, and facilitate collective bargaining and dispute resolution in the workplace.
