Part-time employees are now entitled to equal hourly pay pro rata inter alia as their full-time counterparts receive, thanks to an amendment to the law on Employment and Industrial Relations.

The amendment came into force on 12 March. The regulation applies to all part-time employees who are employed as from the date of publication of the regulations, as published in the Government Gazette on 12 March.

It reads: “In the case of part-time employees whose part-time employment is one in respect of which social security contributions are not payable in terms of the Social Security Act, who have been engaged as such prior to the date of coming into force of these regulations and who are still in their part-time employment on the date of the coming into force of these regulations.”

It carries the proviso that a part-time employee who, in a particular week, works hours not exceeding the normal weekly hours of a comparable full-time employee, and is paid at the normal hourly rate for such hours, will not be considered as having been treated less favourably than a comparable full-time employee who is paid at a higher rate for hours worked in excess of normal weekly hours.

In other words, a part-time employee whose weekly hours exceed the normal weekly hours of a comparable full-time employee will be paid at the same rate as that applicable to a comparable full-time employee.

In addition, any hours worked on Sundays or public holidays, whether in respect of the normal hours of work or for hours in excess of normal hours of work of comparable full-time employees, will be paid at the same hourly rates as applicable to comparable full-time employees.