Tag archives: Equal opportunity

Coronavirus and Discrimination: The balance between protecting the workforce and community and avoiding unlawful discrimination

Last week a Malaysian student of Chinese descent returned to her rented home in Perth’s southern suburbs after visiting family in Malaysia for a few weeks. Upon arriving home, she found the locks had been changed and a handwritten sign was on the door, notifying her she was no longer welcome in the house given the coronavirus “emergency”.… Continue Reading

What protection from discrimination do employees have on the grounds of gender in South Africa?

By Karen Ainslie (ZA) on November 4, 2015 Posted in Discrimination and harassment, General, South Africa

This article was written by Douglas de Jager , an associate at Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa

Section 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa states that “[n]o person may unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status…” and that “[n]ational legislation must be enacted to prevent or prohibit unfair discrimination”.

In South Africa, women comprise approximately 31.1% of the active formal workforce, and the regulatory environment has been a key enabler in promoting recognition of the requirement of gender equality.

Both the Employment Equity Act, … Continue Reading