BOSA Advocates for National Pay Transparency Through Proposed Fair Pay Bill on Workers Day

Build One South Africa calls for support of the Fair Pay Bill to stop employers from asking for past pay slips and ensure workplace transparency.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 6:25 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EWN

Legislative Push for Equitable Hiring Practices

As South Africa observes Workers' Day, Build One South Africa has intensified its campaign for a fundamental shift in the nation's labor market dynamics. The party is championing the Fair Pay Bill, a legislative proposal designed to modernize hiring protocols and eliminate systemic underpayment. According to BOSA leadership, the current environment often operates against the interests of job seekers, particularly recent graduates. The bill seeks to foster a culture of transparency where compensation is determined by the requirements of the role rather than the previous earnings of the candidate, thereby creating a more meritocratic employment landscape.

Abolishing the Salary History Requirement

The core of the BOSA proposal involves a strict prohibition on employers requesting past pay slips from potential employees during the recruitment process. The party argues that using salary history as a benchmark for new offers ensures that past economic injustices are carried forward into future roles. According to BOSA, this practice traps workers in a cycle of low wages, regardless of their increasing skills or the market value of the new position. By removing this requirement, the bill aims to reset the bargaining power between employers and employees, ensuring that pay is aligned with current industry standards.

National Conversation on Workplace Fairness Begins

BOSA deputy leader Nobuntu Hlazo, Webster has indicated that the publication of the Fair Pay Bill for public comment serves as the catalyst for a broader national dialogue regarding economic participation. She stated that the holiday offers a critical opportunity to redefine the identity and rights of a worker in the modern South African economy. According to Hlazo, Webster, thousands of job seekers enter a market that is frequently structured to their disadvantage. The party views this reform as a necessary correction to a labor system that has historically allowed for the perpetuation of unfair pay scales through a lack of informational transparency.