The pandemic has impacted our lives in many ways, but for many of us, one of the most affected areas has certainly been work. COVID-19 has indeed led to an unprecedented need and demand for remote working. In recent months, many people have been forced or have chosen to work…
The unheralded Botes’ Law on Annual Leave Interpretation holds that if there are two people arguing about the interpretation of annual leave, there will be at least three interpretations of the law on that issue. Johan Botes, Partner and Head of Employment & Compensation at Baker McKenzie in Johannesburg, explains his theory, referring to recent South African judgments that had conflicting views on the matter.
The United States (US) President Elect Joe Biden and his new administration are expected to take a multilateral…
In brief Overview Zareenah Rasool, Candidate Attorney, Rui Lopes, Associate, and Darryl Bernstein, Partner and Head of the Healthcare and Lifesciences Industry Group at Baker McKenzie in Johannesburg, set out the infrastructure that is in place, and the processes that must be followed, for medicines such as the COVID-19 vaccine…
South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa outlined the country’s Economic Recovery Plan on in October 2020, during which he explained that if just 10% of South African’s imported goods (excluding oil) could be manufactured locally, the country would add 2% to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Further, if South Africa could supply 2% of it manufactured goods to its African peers, it would add 1.2% to its GDP. In this regard, Virusha Subban, Partner Specializing in Customs and Trade at Baker McKenzie in Johannesburg, explains how South Africa could benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
The South Africa Revenue Service has published a Notice clarifying the customs declaration process under section 64D of the Customs and Excise Act. The Notice outlines the conditions under which bonded goods must be imported into South Africa. Prenisha Govender, Associate in the Tax Practice at Baker McKenzie in Johannesburg, provides the key points.
The COVID-19 national lockdown has resulted in more employees having to work from home, a situation that could result in an indefinite arrangement for some. However, in terms of the Income Tax Act, employees must meet certain conditions to be able to claim a tax deduction for home office expenses. Prenisha Govender, Associate in the Tax Practice at Baker McKenzie in Johannesburg, assesses the fairness of these stipulations, considering changes due to the pandemic.
The Labour Appeal Court in South Africa recently confirmed some of the principles inherent in limited duration contracts, which are used by employers to create certainty and limit legal risk in respect of staffing solutions. Johan Botes, Partner and Head of Employment at Baker McKenzie in Johannesburg, outlines the details and how the risks can be effectively managed by employers.
Keketso Kgomosotho, Candidate Attorney in Johannesburg, writes about gender responsive budgeting and how it can be used to make meaningful improvements to gender inequality in the workplace.
In brief The African Union announced in August 2020 that negotiations around the first commercial trade deal under the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) would be finalized by January 2021, and that negotiations would take place via a new African Virtual Trade-Diplomacy Platform. Virusha Subban, Partner specializing in…