This paper compared the South African concepts of pay equity and equal pay for work of equal value with those of industrialised countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. The study considered how South Africa recognized the right to promote equal pay, in the absence of a proper legal framework which expressly includes such a right. The paper also focused on the impact of statutes and case law on the developments of equal pay in the aforementioned industrialized countries. It also considered the impact of the decisions of the European Court of Justice on such developments as well as it impact on the interpretation of equal pay in these industrialised countries. The purpose of such comparison was not to transplant the legal system of these industrialised countries but to assist South Africa in remedying its weaknesses by creating legal rules for the promotion of equal pay for work of equal value.

The consolidation of 22 years of democracy and 20 years of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa entrenched the need to eradicate social and economic inequalities, particularly those that stem from our history of colonialism, apartheid and patriarchy, which brought pain and suffering to the great majority of our people, in particular Black people. Therefore, the passing of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Constitution)1 20 years ago, marked a turning point in our history by giving expression firstly, to the Freedom Charter and secondly, by upholding the values of human dignity, equality, freedom and social justice in a united, non-racial and nonsexist society where every South African may flourish. However, despite the fact that the Bill of Rights in the Constitution provides that everyone is equal before the law and that equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and freedom, discriminatory practices, in particular, pay inequalities, are still rife in our country. It is against this backdrop that the historical background of the employment discrimination law in South Africa, which over a period of time, contributed significantly to the high levels of inequalities in pay experienced by the previously disadvantaged groups, such as Black people, women and people with disabilities becomes critical. This aspect points to the importance of understanding the context within which the principle of “Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value” has been and should be implemented in South Africa compared to Canada. Therefore, drawing from the review of the legislation and the implementation processes of the principle of equal pay for work of equal value, the following best practices/ lessons learned were identified: 108 of 1996. The Canadian Ontario Pay Equity Act states that the value of job classes be based on factors such as skill, effort, responsibility and working conditions. This Act also requires the employer to take proactive steps to institute a jobevaluation scheme, and the participation of the social partners and the affected workers is crucial. It is submitted that there are similarities in these requirements with those contained in the Employment Equity Regulations, 2014, which implies that the South African legislative framework draws on this best practice. The Ontario Employment Standards Act allows the comparison to be drawn with the establishment of the same employer in the same municipality, as well as with establishments to which a worker can be transferred. In this regard, it is observed that the new provisions on equal pay in section 6(4) of the Employment Equity Amendment Act, 2013, limits only the comparison with the employees of the “same employer” without elaborating further into the same municipality or with establishments to which a worker can be transferred. Under Ontario Pay Equity Act, even if there is no precise comparator in the establishment doing work of equal value, the employer must ensure that the worker’s pay is proportionate to others doing work of proportionate value. In the context of South African legislation, a comparison on the basis of proportionate value is not catered for. The meaning of “work of equal value” refers to the work that is the same (identical or interchangeable), substantially the same (sufficiently similar), or of equal value (accorded the same value) when compared to an appropriate comparator. In justifying equal pay, the Ontario statute provides that formal seniority systems and performance-related pay can justify unequal pay only if they do not discriminate on the grounds of gender. This is similar to the South African statute, in particular, regulation 7 of the Employment Equity Regulations, 2014, which include seniority and performance as some of the factors that may justify unequal pay only if they do not unfairly discriminate on one or combination of the listed grounds, and on any other arbitrary ground as prescribed by section 6(1) of the EEA as amended. As per the Ontario legislation, the employer cannot reduce the rate of remuneration in order to comply with the principle of equal pay for work of equal value. Similarly, in the South African legislation, in particular, regulation 7 of the Employment Equity Regulations, 2014, it prevents levelling down of pay in instances of demotions and in transfer of contracts (section 197 of the LRA). There is a requirement in terms of the Ontario Pay Equity Act, that employers must establish and maintain pay equity in their establishment in consultation with the bargaining agent (trade unions); and after the agreement, post a Pay Equity Plan in its workplace. In terms of South African legislation, the EEA does not have a requirement for a Pay Equity Plan, however, designated employers (those required to comply with Chapter III of the EEA) are required in terms of sections 19(1) and 20 of the EEA to conduct a review of their workplace policies, practices and procedures, inclusive of remuneration and benefits; and develop and implement affirmative-action measures to address any unfair discrimination practices by including these measures in their Employment Equity Plans. Furthermore, in terms of section 27 of the EEA, designated employers are then required to submit their annual Income Differential Statements to the Employment Conditions Commission (ECC) on the remuneration and benefits received in each occupational level of that employer’s workforce. In relation to dealing with pay-equity disputes, the Ontario Pay Equity Act, establishes a Pay Equity Commission, which consists of a Pay Equity Office, inclusive of Review Officers and the Hearings Tribunal that are mandated to specifically enforce the equal-pay-for-work-of-equal-value principle. Contrary, in South Africa, the legislation does not cater for the establishment of a Pay Equity Commission with exclusive mandate to deal with pay-equity cases. In this regard, the various courts and the CCMA which are mandated to deal with equal-pay disputes are also mandated to deal with other labour disputes emanating from other labour legislation, e.g. the LRA, BCEA, EEA, UIA, OHSA, COIDA, etc. The Review Officers in the Pay Equity Office in Ontario are mandated to monitor the implementation and maintenance of the Pay Equity Plans as per section 34 of the Pay Equity Act in Ontario. In South Africa, the EEA makes provision for DG Review process in terms of section 43, where the DG of Labour can subject any organization for a review to assess its compliance with the requirements of the EEA as whole, and not specifically to assess the implementation of the principle of equal pay for work of equal value. Notably, assessment of income differentials to promote equal pay may form part of the DG review process. In light of the above best practices / lessons learned, the following recommendations are made to inform the improvement plans of the implementation of the principle of equal pay for work of equal value in the South African labour market: Conducting of continuous advocacy campaigns to raise awareness and educate all stakeholders, i.e. employers, employees and trade unions on the principle of equal pay for work of equal value. Development of further policy guidelines in relation to equal pay consultations within the workplace between the employer and the employees, including where applicable registered trade unions. A policy directive on the “equal-pay consultation” will promote not only transparency around pay and benefit structures, but will encourage proactive measures from employers to develop pay/remuneration policies, including establishing remuneration committees; conducting job evaluations; implementing job-grading systems and performance-evaluation systems to promote the implementation of the principle of equal pay for work of equal value. 2 SS 115(4) and 158(1)(j) of 66 of 1995. Minimum wage-setting bodies should have the duty to apply the principle of equal pay for work of equal value in the setting of minimum wages. Collective bargaining structures such as bargaining councils should have a duty to apply and enforce the principle of equal pay for work of equal value in the wage-negotiation process and conclusion of collective agreements. Given the importance of collective bargaining in wage-setting in South Africa, there should be a duty on the social partners to include the principle of equal pay for work of equal value in all collective agreements. Industry-wide comparisons should be utilized, particularly in sectors in which collective bargaining operates at a sectoral level. Alternatively, the “Proxy” method as developed in Ontario, should be considered. Proportionate pay, as developed in Ontario, should be considered in cases where there is no comparator doing work of equal value, employed by the same employer. Possible legislative amendments to section 27 of the EEA to include a new provision, requiring employers to develop and implement a Pay Equity Plan outlining how they intend complying with the principle of equal pay for work of equal value. Then an annual progress report must be submitted to the Director General of Labour on how the Pay Equity Plan has been implemented instead of the current submission of an Income Differential Statement to the ECC. Finally, compliance with the principle of equal pay for work of equal value is required as a condition for accessing State Contracts under section 53 of the EEA when this section is promulgated in the near future. It can be deduced from the review process that the principle of equal pay for work of equal is a complex and specialized area. However, it was also clear that in both South Africa and Canada, the issue of equal pay is seen, not only as a workplace issue, but as an important Constitutional fundamental human-right imperative to the achievement of equality in a society as a whole.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Melbourne, 1990. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references.

Doctorat en sciences sociales, politiques et économiques / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

This is a study of women’s employment in Great Britain from 1891 to 1921 with special reference to its division from men’s. It examines, first, the occupational distribution of the nation’s labour force during the 1891-1914 period and finds a definite division between the work done by women and the work done by men. It then asks what factors underlay women’s absence from the work men did and women’s presence and men’s absence from the work women did. After answering these questions it shows and accounts for the major changes that occurred in women’s employment between the pre-First World War years of 1891 to 1914, the First World War years of 1914 to 1918, and the post-First World War years of 1914 to 1921 and considers what effect they had on the sex division of labour. Of secondary interest is the reaction of women to their own employment position. The 1891-1921 period coincides with the advance of the so-called women’s rights movement whereby women, as active agents in furthering their interests as citizens, wives, mothers, and persons, also undertook to improve their position as workers. Why was there dissatisfaction with it? What were the measures taken to better it? How effective were they? What did they signify for the division of labour? This thesis encompasses these questions as well. Descriptively this thesis sets out, in more statistical and narrative detail than has ever before been attempted for the 1891-1921 period and for Great Britain as a whole, the existence of a sex division of labour, secondly, its extensiveness, and thirdly, the position of the dividing line. Analytically it isolates the principal factors affecting the determination of what was women’s and what was men’s work. In the process it shows that any analysis that begins with the character of the supply and demand for male and for female labour as given facts cannot adequately explain the sex division as it fails to explain why sex as such appears as a differentiating factor. For this, account must be taken of how males and females were transformed into masculine and feminine persons and how masculinity and femininity as contemporaneously defined affected a person's labour attributes and, directly and indirectly, an employer’s choice of labour. Finally, this thesis, by considering women’s employment over a period of time, becomes a record of how it changed as the factors affecting its determination were modified. Moreover, by focusing attention on the contemporary developments making for change between 1891 and 1921, this thesis provides a springboard for analyzing subsequent changes in women’s employment.

On 13 November 1942, Thelma E. Page, a black high school teacher in Dallas, Texas, brought suit against the Dallas Board of Education in order to bring about the equalization of black and white teachers' salaries. This suit was part of a national movement of blacks, under the direction of the NAACP, and was an indirect attack upon segregation. Most of these suits were filed against large city school systems, in the South, in order to effect the greatest possible number of black teachers. This suit was won by the plaintiff and brought about equalization.

The legislation relating to equal remuneration claims is an area of law which is nuanced and consequently poorly understood. It has posed an unattainable mountain for many claimants who came before the South African courts. This is as a direct result of the lack of an adequate legal framework providing for same in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998. The case law recognises two causes of action relating to equal remuneration. The first cause of action is equal remuneration for the same/similar work. The second is equal remuneration for work of equal value. The former is easily understood by both claimants and courts but the latter is poorly understood and poses many difficulties. The aim of this dissertation is fourfold. Firstly, the problems and criticisms regarding equal remuneration claims will be briefly highlighted. Secondly, a comprehensive analysis of the current legal framework will be set out together with the inadequacies. Thirdly, an analysis of international law and the law of the United Kingdom relating to equal remuneration claims will be undertaken. Fourthly, this dissertation will conclude by proposing recommendations to rectify the inadequacies. / Mercantile Law / LL.M. (Labour law)

This thesis is a case study of the implementation of Ontario's 1987 pay equity legislation. Ontario's pay equity legislation was very progressive and was aimed at eliminating the portion of the wage gap between men and women caused by discrimination. The legislation mandated both public and private sector employers with more than 10 employees to create pay equity plans to eliminate the discriminatory portion of the wage gap. The legislation has met with some success. However, measuring the progress of eliminating wage discrimination is difficult because the Ontario government was unwilling to impose a coercive implementation regime. Consequently, the government has little information to measure either employer compliance or the results of employer pay equity plans. Employers have few incentives to comply with the legislation and the implementing agency has insufficient financial resources to monitor compliance. Clearly this implementation regime was a delicate political balancing of the interests of business and labour and women.

Thesis (MComm)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The new set of employment equity laws call for South African organisations to justify their compensations systems. During compensation discrimination litigation, evidence is required to support arguments put before the court in order to meet the burden of proof. The similarity between foreign and domestic legal systems, suggests that the operational implications of foreign legislation will also be relevant to South Africa. This raises the debate as to the nature of fairness in the compensation context, the debate of comparable worth and the use of multiple regression analysis. The organisation must present to the court evidence to show that the choice of compensable constructs, their measurement and application does not discrimination directly or indirectly based on group membership. Multiple regression analysis, a statistical method to model the compensation system, is fraught with difficulties and misunderstanding. It is nevertheless the most appropriate method to investigate compensation fairness. Comparable worth and multiple regression analysis require assessment in the South African context. The issues, which hindered the successful use of multiple regression analysis abroad, are reviewed in order to smooth its entry into South African litigation. A framework is presented based on literature and case law whereby all parties concerned can produce and evaluate such evidence / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die nuwe Anti-Diskrimineringswetgewing verlang van Suid-Afrikaanse organisasies om salarisstelsels te regverdig. Gedurende salarisdiskriminasielitigasie word bewys verlang om die bewyslas oor te dra. Die gelyksoortigheid van buitelandse en binnelandse regstelsels gee te kenne dat die operatiewe implikasies van buitelandse wetgewing relevant tot Suid-Afrika sal wees. Dit bevraagteken die aard van billikheid in die kompensasie konteks, die debat van vergelykbare waarde en die gebruik van veelvoudige regressieontleding. Die betrokke party moet bewys aan die hof toon om te bevestig dat die keuse van vergoedingskonstruksie, sowel as die meting en toepassing daarvan, nie onregverdig diskrimineer, ten opsigte van demografiese groepe me. Veelvoudige regressieontleding 'n statistiese metode wat gebriuk kan word om die salarissisteem voor te stel. Alhoewel dit vele onduidelikhede bevat, is dit steeds die mees toepaslike metode om salarisbillikheid te ondersoek. Vergelykbare waarde en meervoudige regressieontleding is in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks geëvalueer. Die aspekte wat die sukses van die gebruik van meervoudige regressieontleding in ander lande verhinder het, is ondersoek en geëvalueer om die toekomstige toepassing daarvan in Suid-Afrika te vergemaklik. 'n Raamwerk gebaseer op literatuur en gevalle studies word voorgestel, waar al die betrokke partye sodanige bewys kan produseer en evalueer.

The legislation relating to equal remuneration claims is an area of law which is nuanced and consequently poorly understood. It has posed an unattainable mountain for many claimants who came before the South African courts. This is as a direct result of the lack of an adequate legal framework providing for same in the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998. The case law recognises two causes of action relating to equal remuneration. The first cause of action is equal remuneration for the same/similar work. The second is equal remuneration for work of equal value. The former is easily understood by both claimants and courts but the latter is poorly understood and poses many difficulties. The aim of this dissertation is fourfold. Firstly, the problems and criticisms regarding equal remuneration claims will be briefly highlighted. Secondly, a comprehensive analysis of the current legal framework will be set out together with the inadequacies. Thirdly, an analysis of international law and the law of the United Kingdom relating to equal remuneration claims will be undertaken. Fourthly, this dissertation will conclude by proposing recommendations to rectify the inadequacies. / Mercantile Law / LL.M. (Labour law)