Employment Posters

I am regularly asked which posters must be displayed at the workplace of businesses.

Regardless of what your local stationer may say, there are only two (2) summary posters which you are required to display at the workplace for most businesses, however, as with all aspects of South African labour legislation, it is not merely that simple.

1. Summary of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act

The Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997 (Act No. 75 of 1997) at Section 30 requires all employers to display the employee’s rights at a workplace in the prescribed form and in the official language(s) spoken by employees.

This poster is ordinarily in an A2 format and is available from government printers, Hortor’s and various other sources.

2. Summary of the Employment Equity Act

Similarly, The Employment Equity Act, 1998 (Act No. 55 of 1998) at Section 25(1) requires employer’s to display a summary of that act.

Again this is ordinarily an A2 poster available in the same format as the BCEA poster referred to above.

3. Additional Posters?

Some employers also display the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 (Act No. 85 of 1993), however this is not, strictly speaking correct.

The wording of the OSHA requires that an employer must make available, upon request, a copy of the full Act and the relevant regulations, meaning that while a wall poster is not required, a copy of the act must be accessible.

The General Machinery Regulations of OSHA also requires that certain workplaces must display Schedules C and/or D of the Act, dependent on whether there is a boiler on site and if employees use machinery on the premises, however you can find out more about this and whether it applies to your workplace in the Act.