EMPLOYMENT MINIMUM AGE
A person may not demand or permit a child to work if the youngster is under the age of 15 or falls below the legal minimum school leaving age. A person may not additionally demand or authorize a child to undertake employment or services that are improper for his or her age and endanger the kid’s well-being, education, bodily or mental health, or spiritual, moral, or social development. Anyone who violates these laws commits an offense and faces a three-year prison sentence as well as a fine. Children under the age of 15 may be employed in advertising, sports, artistic, or cultural activities.
HAZARDOUS WORK MINIMUM AGE
The minimum age for hazardous work is 18 years old. No one may force or allow a child worker to do piecework or task work. A kid worker may not work more than 8 hours each day. A child who is not enrolled in school may not work more than 40 hours a week, while a child who is enrolled in school may not work more than 40 hours during school holidays and 20 hours during the school term. A youngster may not work between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Deep sea fishing, commercial diving, animal slaughtering, meat processing, logging, working in a bar, shebeen, tavern, or pub, rock and stone crushing, and working in confined spaces are all prohibited jobs. Underground mining is widely regarded as the most heinous kind of child labor. Work requiring respiratory protection equipment; work in an elevated position; heavy weight lifting; and work in cold, hot, and noisy conditions are also forbidden for children under the age of 18.
MINORS AND YOUTH REGULATIONS
Basic Conditions of Employment Act of 1997 (amended in 2002 & 2013)
1996 Republic of South Africa Constitution
Is child labor permitted in South Africa?
No. Employing a kid under the age of 15 or the minimum school-leaving age, whichever is older, is a criminal offense under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA).
Can a 16-year-old find a job in South Africa?
The South African government has agreed to lower the working age for 16 to 18-year-olds. They want these young people to focus on their academics rather than occupations, thus they have chosen to limit their working age from 16 to 18 years old.
