South African Labour Law Guide: Instant Answers to Your BCEA & Employee Rights Questions

Facing a difficult situation at work? Confused by your employment contract or unsure about your rights? Get clear, immediate, and reliable answers with our Interactive Guide to South African Labour Law. This powerful tool acts as your personal legal assistant, providing understandable explanations for your specific questions about the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), the Labour Relations Act (LRA), and more.

Stop searching through complex legal documents. Simply ask your question in plain English and receive a detailed answer supported by official legal citations, helping you make informed decisions with confidence.

Key Features:

• Ask Anything: Use the simple chat interface to ask complex questions about unfair dismissal, retrenchment, leave (annual, sick, maternity), notice periods, disciplinary hearings, and more.
• Intelligent, AI-Powered Answers: Get comprehensive responses that don’t just state the law but explain what it means for you.
• Trustworthy & Verified Information: Every answer is backed by specific citations, referencing the exact section of the relevant Act (e.g., Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Section 22).
• Conversational Follow-Ups: Don’t understand a part of the answer? Ask for clarification! The guide remembers the context of your conversation to provide relevant follow-up responses.
• Comprehensive Knowledge Base: Get information on a wide range of topics including:
  • The Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA)
  • The Labour Relations Act (LRA)
  • CCMA processes and referrals
  • Employment contracts and working hours
  • Unfair labour practices and discrimination
• Private & Secure: Your conversation is completely private. When you’re done, you can erase the entire history with a single click.
• Available 24/7: Get the information you need, right when you need it, without having to wait for an appointment.

Empower yourself with knowledge. Whether you’re an employee trying to understand your rights or an employer ensuring compliance, our interactive guide is the essential first step.

How to Use the Guide: Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps to get instant answers to your labour law questions.

Step 1: Get Your Free Gemini API Key

To power the intelligent Q&A feature, the app requires a free personal API key from Google.

1. Go to Google AI Studio: Click this link to go directly to Google AI Studio.
2. Sign In: Sign in with your existing Google account.
3. Create API Key: Follow the on-screen prompts to “Create API key in new project.”
4. Copy Your Key: A new key (a long string of letters and numbers) will be generated. Click the copy icon next to it.

Step 2: Configure the App

1. Paste Your API Key: Back on our website, paste the key you just copied into the “Enter Your Gemini API Key” input field.
2. Save Key (Optional): If you tick the “Save API Key” checkbox, your browser will securely store the key on your computer so you don’t have to enter it every time you visit.

Step 3: Ask Your Question

1. Type in the Main Box: In the large text area labeled “Ask your question about South African Labour Law…”, type your question or describe your situation.
2. Be Detailed: The more specific you are, the better and more accurate the answer will be. For example, instead of “leave days,” ask “How many paid sick leave days am I entitled to in a 3-year cycle if I work 5 days a week?”
3. Click “Get Answer”: Press the button to submit your question.

Step 4: Review and Ask Follow-Up Questions

1. Read the Answer: The AI-generated answer will appear in the chat history, complete with legal citations.
2. Ask for Clarification: If you need more detail on a specific point, simply type a follow-up question into the same input box (e.g., “Can you explain what ‘consecutive’ means in that context?”) and click “Get Answer” again. The app will understand you are referring to the previous answer.

Step 5: Start a New Conversation

• If you want to clear the entire chat history and start a completely new, unrelated query, simply click the “Erase Conversation” button.

Disclaimer: This tool is designed to provide general information and should not be considered as a substitute for formal legal advice. For complex matters, it is always recommended to consult with a qualified legal professional.