The updated Code of Good Practice on Dismissal, issued under the
Labour Relations Act, 1996, was published in Government Gazette No.
53294 and came into effect on 4 September 2025. This Code replaces
the previous Code contained in Schedule 8 to the Labour Relations
Act and introduces important changes.
The 2025 Code introduces greater clarity, fairness, and
flexibility, especially for small businesses. It replaces the older
Schedule 8 with a more structured and inclusive framework, ensuring
that both employers and employees better understand their rights
and responsibilities.
Other than the changes relating to small businesses and the
justified deviation for employers in exceptional circumstances to
have less formalistic disciplinary processes, there is nothing
entirely new in the 2025 Code. While the previous Code provided
general guidance, the 2025 Code incorporates established legal
principles and case law directly into its text. As such, the
changes relating
