What are my rights in my workplace regarding contracted hours of employment?
Hey Lila, First of all you must take note that i’m from South Africa and we are probably having the most progressive labour laws in the world (Australia will differ) However, I was a union official within one of SA’s biggest trade unions for more then eight years and speaks with the necessary authority. In line with ILO standards you have no reason to worry about losing your contracted hours because the returning employee has no contractual rights over the hours which you are working currently. Should the company gives your hours to the second employee then it will effectively dismisses you unfairly since there is a mutual agreement that those hours will only be worked by you unless (of cause should you be guilty of misconduct or poor performance). The only way how they can get rid of you legally will be if they won’t need another person or yourself to works the current contracted hours (declaring the need for extra hands during those night redundant and allows someone else who works l
