Overview

• Justice Zukisa Tshiqi delivered the Constitutional Court judgment in Johannesburg, establishing equal four-month parental leave for all parents.
• Parliament was directed to amend the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the Unemployment Insurance Act to align benefits and coverage with the ruling.
• Trade union federation Cosatu welcomed the decision and said it will engage the Department of Employment and Labour at Nedlac on implementing the changes.
• The Commission for Gender Equality endorsed the judgment, highlighting equal treatment for birth, adoptive and commissioning parents and urging swift legislative action.
• Economist Mandla Maleka criticized the ruling as economically unsound, warning of higher employer costs and predicting companies could turn to AI or other substitutions when workers take leave.