EMPLOYEE

It is important to note what the definition of an employee is in terms of the law. I have been confronted in the CCMA on this issue and I wish to supply the contents of section 200A for clarity and future reference.

“200A. Presumption as to who is employee

(1)       Until the contrary is proved, a person, who works for or renders services to any other person, is presumed, regardless of the form of the contract, to be an employee, if any one or more of the following factors are present:

• the manner in which the person works is subject to the control or direction of another person;
• the person’s hours of work are subject to the control or direction of another person
• in the case of a person who works for an organization, the person forms part of that organization;
• the person has worked for that other person for an average of at least 40 hours per month over the last three months;
• the person is economically dependent on the other person for whom he or she works or renders services;
• the person is provided with tools of trade or work equipment by the other person; or
• the person only works for or renders services to one person.

(2)       Subsection (1) does not apply to any person who earns in excess of the amount determined by the Minister in terms of section 6(3) of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.

(3)       If a proposed or existing work arrangement involves persons who earn amounts equal to or below the amounts determined by the Minister in terms of section 6(3) of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, any of the contracting parties may approach the Commission for an advisory award on whether the persons involved in the arrangement are employees.

(4)       NEDLAC must prepare and issue a Code of Good Practice that sets out guidelines for determining whether persons, including those who earn in excess of the amount determined in subsection (2) are employees.”