UNIT 12: HUMAN RIGHTS, Ways to deal with human rights in the
workplace
INCLUSIVITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Businesses must treat their employees,
customers and other stakeholders correctly. The
policies and practices of the business must
HUMAN RIGHTS
include the rules by which the business must
The meaning of human rights in the operate regarding human rights. This will
workplace ensure loyalty and reduce legal action against
the business.
Human rights are rights that everyone is
entitled to. These rights are protected by the Bill
of Rights contained in the Constitution of the
Privacy
Republic of South Africa. These rights are based
on common values such as dignity, equality, • Businesses must respect the rights of employees
fairness, respect, etc. and customers and may not violate them.
• Personal information about employees or clients
must be kept confidential and must not be given to
6 human rights in the workplace anyone else.
• privacy • The business must keep any information about the
• dignity HIV/AIDS status or chronic illnesses of their
• equality employees confidential.
• freedom of speech and expression
• information
• safety, security and protection of life. Respect and Dignity
• Businesses should value their employees regardless
of their socio-economic status and all employees
Privacy should be treated with respect and dignity.
People's information must be kept confidential • Employees may not be forced to do degrading
and their property must be respected. work.
Dignity and respect • Business must communicate with respect and
dignity towards employees and customers.
Everyone has the right to be treated with
respect and to have their dignity protected.
Equality Equality
• Businesses should not discriminate against
People should be equal in rights, status and
employees on the basis of, for example, gender, race,
benefits and treated as such in the workplace. religion and sexual orientation, but should provide
Freedom of speech and expression them with equal opportunities.
• Businesses must ensure that their workers receive
Everyone should have the right to express their
equal pay for work of equal value.
opinion and should not be punished or
discriminated against for expressing it. • Businesses must apply applicable legislation fairly
at all levels of management. For example, with new
Information appointments they must adhere to the regulations of
the WGI.
Everyone should have access to information
that affects them, including all information held
by employers, the government and other
stakeholders. Freedom of speech and expression
• Businesses should allow open communication
Safety, security and protection of life
channels between management and employees, for
People have the right to an environment that is example, they can implement a grievance box for
not harmful to their health and the right employees.
equipment to protect their health and safety.
, • Businesses should give employees a platform to • The business must comply with the right of workers
voice their grievances without any victimization. to have access to clean water and social security in
Businesses can appoint workplace representatives. the workplace.
• The employee has the right to express their opinion • Provide opportunities for employees to attend skills
and should not be punished or discriminated against training sessions and provide them with basic adult
as a result. education.
• The business must register workers with the UIF to
provide adequate protection in the event of
Information unemployment or illness.
• Workers must have access to information that • The business can encourage employees to
affects them, including all information held by participate in special events, for example World Aids
government, for example policies, work schedules, Day.
employment contracts and labour laws such as the
BCEA/WGI/WVO. Cultural rights
• Businesses should be transparent in their financial Ways to promote cultural rights in the
statements by allowing employees who request to workplace
see the statements.
• The business must respect the right of workers to
• When new information becomes available, the participate in their cultural life.
business must inform employees about it.
• The business must provide an environment in which
employees are free to use their own language when
communicating with others in their free time.
Safety/Security and protection of life
• The business can help employees respect each
• Businesses must provide workers with protective other by holding regular cultural information sessions
clothing, for example gloves and shoes. at the workplace.
• Businesses must comply with regulations such as • Different cultures can be accommodated by
the WBGV/WVBBS, which affect the safety and health providing different food in the canteen as well as staff
of employees. functions.
• Employers must take precautions to ensure that
employees and their belongings are safe in the
workplace. Implications of equality, respect and
dignity on businesses
• Employees must be treated equally, regardless of
The economic rights of employees
their race, colour, age, gender, disability, and so on.
• Freedom from forced labor. • Equal access to opportunities, positions and
• The right to accept or choose work. resources must be available to all employees.
• Equal wages and equal pay for equal
work. • Legislation regarding equal opportunities and
human rights in the workplace must be implemented
• The right to leisure and reasonable
by employers and employees.
limitation of working hours.
• Safe and healthy working conditions. • Businesses should develop equality programs that
• To form and join trade unions. promote strategies to ensure that all employees are
• Right to participate in a legal strike. treated equally, regardless of status, rank, or power.
• The mission statement of the business must include
values of equality and respect.
The social rights of employees
• Businesses should include issues such as diversity,
• Clean water discrimination and harassment in their training and
• Education business policies.
• Protection
• Healthcare
DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE
Diversity means that people are different in
Ways to promote social rights in the
terms of race, gender, age, culture, religion and
workplace
background, etc. The workplace consists of
workplace
INCLUSIVITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Businesses must treat their employees,
customers and other stakeholders correctly. The
policies and practices of the business must
HUMAN RIGHTS
include the rules by which the business must
The meaning of human rights in the operate regarding human rights. This will
workplace ensure loyalty and reduce legal action against
the business.
Human rights are rights that everyone is
entitled to. These rights are protected by the Bill
of Rights contained in the Constitution of the
Privacy
Republic of South Africa. These rights are based
on common values such as dignity, equality, • Businesses must respect the rights of employees
fairness, respect, etc. and customers and may not violate them.
• Personal information about employees or clients
must be kept confidential and must not be given to
6 human rights in the workplace anyone else.
• privacy • The business must keep any information about the
• dignity HIV/AIDS status or chronic illnesses of their
• equality employees confidential.
• freedom of speech and expression
• information
• safety, security and protection of life. Respect and Dignity
• Businesses should value their employees regardless
of their socio-economic status and all employees
Privacy should be treated with respect and dignity.
People's information must be kept confidential • Employees may not be forced to do degrading
and their property must be respected. work.
Dignity and respect • Business must communicate with respect and
dignity towards employees and customers.
Everyone has the right to be treated with
respect and to have their dignity protected.
Equality Equality
• Businesses should not discriminate against
People should be equal in rights, status and
employees on the basis of, for example, gender, race,
benefits and treated as such in the workplace. religion and sexual orientation, but should provide
Freedom of speech and expression them with equal opportunities.
• Businesses must ensure that their workers receive
Everyone should have the right to express their
equal pay for work of equal value.
opinion and should not be punished or
discriminated against for expressing it. • Businesses must apply applicable legislation fairly
at all levels of management. For example, with new
Information appointments they must adhere to the regulations of
the WGI.
Everyone should have access to information
that affects them, including all information held
by employers, the government and other
stakeholders. Freedom of speech and expression
• Businesses should allow open communication
Safety, security and protection of life
channels between management and employees, for
People have the right to an environment that is example, they can implement a grievance box for
not harmful to their health and the right employees.
equipment to protect their health and safety.
, • Businesses should give employees a platform to • The business must comply with the right of workers
voice their grievances without any victimization. to have access to clean water and social security in
Businesses can appoint workplace representatives. the workplace.
• The employee has the right to express their opinion • Provide opportunities for employees to attend skills
and should not be punished or discriminated against training sessions and provide them with basic adult
as a result. education.
• The business must register workers with the UIF to
provide adequate protection in the event of
Information unemployment or illness.
• Workers must have access to information that • The business can encourage employees to
affects them, including all information held by participate in special events, for example World Aids
government, for example policies, work schedules, Day.
employment contracts and labour laws such as the
BCEA/WGI/WVO. Cultural rights
• Businesses should be transparent in their financial Ways to promote cultural rights in the
statements by allowing employees who request to workplace
see the statements.
• The business must respect the right of workers to
• When new information becomes available, the participate in their cultural life.
business must inform employees about it.
• The business must provide an environment in which
employees are free to use their own language when
communicating with others in their free time.
Safety/Security and protection of life
• The business can help employees respect each
• Businesses must provide workers with protective other by holding regular cultural information sessions
clothing, for example gloves and shoes. at the workplace.
• Businesses must comply with regulations such as • Different cultures can be accommodated by
the WBGV/WVBBS, which affect the safety and health providing different food in the canteen as well as staff
of employees. functions.
• Employers must take precautions to ensure that
employees and their belongings are safe in the
workplace. Implications of equality, respect and
dignity on businesses
• Employees must be treated equally, regardless of
The economic rights of employees
their race, colour, age, gender, disability, and so on.
• Freedom from forced labor. • Equal access to opportunities, positions and
• The right to accept or choose work. resources must be available to all employees.
• Equal wages and equal pay for equal
work. • Legislation regarding equal opportunities and
human rights in the workplace must be implemented
• The right to leisure and reasonable
by employers and employees.
limitation of working hours.
• Safe and healthy working conditions. • Businesses should develop equality programs that
• To form and join trade unions. promote strategies to ensure that all employees are
• Right to participate in a legal strike. treated equally, regardless of status, rank, or power.
• The mission statement of the business must include
values of equality and respect.
The social rights of employees
• Businesses should include issues such as diversity,
• Clean water discrimination and harassment in their training and
• Education business policies.
• Protection
• Healthcare
DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE
Diversity means that people are different in
Ways to promote social rights in the
terms of race, gender, age, culture, religion and
workplace
background, etc. The workplace consists of
