Advert
Advert – scroll down
Displaying the 30 latest comments.
Submitted | first-name | support | concern | top-concern | message |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2026-02-17 00:59:54 +02:00 | Peter | No I do not | All of the above | Loss of Income & Tax Deductions | |
2026-02-17 00:08:01 +02:00 | Nicci | No I do not | All of the above | Industry Job Losses | |
2026-02-16 23:37:32 +02:00 | Bonita | No I do not | All of the above | Loss of Flexibility | |
2026-02-16 22:20:39 +02:00 | Sabelo | Yes I do | All of the above | Loss of Income & Tax Deductions | |
2026-02-16 21:29:28 +02:00 | Susan | No I do not | All of the above | Industry Job Losses | |
2026-02-16 21:22:14 +02:00 | Sunette | No I do not | All of the above | Loss of Income & Tax Deductions | |
2026-02-16 21:13:49 +02:00 | Lian | No I do not | Industry Job Losses | Employers are at the point to rather end nice to have positions and let employees go that is only a financial burden- aka mor unemployment Driven by governance International companies already move on and out! This is not received positively Cheers to the GNU | |
2026-02-16 20:37:02 +02:00 | Kyle | No I do not | Loss of Flexibility | The industry has never been structured in a way that is viable to the masses and this creates a work force that is unmatched and creates individuals with great skill to become leaders in our industry. Hence we are subcontracted as the flow of work is also never certain by doing so we create a gap and loss of income where we spend less of our own countries money and more from contractual obligations from abroad. The simple truth is if individuals want to become full time employees the SABC and local film industries have those options. | |
2026-02-16 20:16:22 +02:00 | Yvonne | No I do not | All of the above | Loss of Income & Tax Deductions | |
2026-02-16 20:06:21 +02:00 | Pax | No I do not | All of the above | Loss of Income & Tax Deductions | |
2026-02-16 20:06:19 +02:00 | Pax | No I do not | All of the above | Loss of Income & Tax Deductions | |
2026-02-16 19:54:27 +02:00 | Michael | No I do not | All of the above | Industry Job Losses | The major issue is that current employment laws in South Africa are so terrible, discriminatory, and covered in red tape. That any benefits that this bill suggested would be dwarfed by cons. |
2026-02-16 19:52:48 +02:00 | Marco | No I do not | Other | Changing this policy to try and squeeze out more taxes from the freelance sector is unethical. Putting more bureaucratic hoops and hurdles onto an already stressed industry will only push more international work away. No one will shoot here if they have to support UIF and jump the hoops of working under the definitions of employees. Don't change what is already working. | |
2026-02-16 19:44:12 +02:00 | Hill | No I do not | All of the above | Industry Job Losses | Again an overreach by government. Instead of letting the principles of a free market economy work, government is trying to force certain aspects of the working relationships. In doing so they are exacerbating unemployment. If the government is serious about protecting employment, they need to get rid of minimum wage. There are a lot of people who are unemployed but are willing to work for less than minimum wage just to earn a living, but government prohibits them from working for less than minimum wage. In doing so the unemployment rate is escalating rapidly. |
2026-02-16 19:36:36 +02:00 | Rahma | No I do not | All of the above | Industry Job Losses | |
2026-02-16 19:06:58 +02:00 | Armand | No I do not | All of the above | Industry Job Losses | |
2026-02-16 19:04:31 +02:00 | Maria | No I do not | Industry Job Losses | ||
2026-02-16 19:04:30 +02:00 | Maria | No I do not | Industry Job Losses | ||
2026-02-16 18:58:40 +02:00 | Maria | No I do not | Industry Job Losses | ||
2026-02-16 18:54:48 +02:00 | Lesego | Not fully | Loss of Income & Tax Deductions | My concern is the loss of flexibility as well. Perhaps it is time for a union to be formed that is working hand in hand with the dept of labour to assist performers. | |
2026-02-16 18:54:01 +02:00 | Josie | No I do not | All of the above | Loss of Income & Tax Deductions | As freelance workers we are lucky to work 5 months of the year, if that. There is a ceiling to what we can earn and in reality we are earning the same, if not less, than we did 10 years ago. We can’t keep up. We already live on the edge and deducting more earnings from us is not sustainable. |
2026-02-16 18:18:27 +02:00 | Corrie Andre | No I do not | Loss of Income & Tax Deductions | ||
2026-02-16 18:02:04 +02:00 | Francois | No I do not | All of the above | Industry Job Losses | |
2026-02-16 18:00:06 +02:00 | Margueritte | No I do not | Loss of Income & Tax Deductions | ||
2026-02-16 17:39:37 +02:00 | Layla | No I do not | All of the above | Loss of Income & Tax Deductions | Dear Acting Deputy Director General, I am writing to formally submit my comment regarding Gazette Notice R7020 (23 January 2026), which proposes deeming all performers in advertising, artistic and cultural activities as employees under multiple labour statutes. I have worked in the South African film industry for over a decade in multiple capacities, including Childminder, Art Department Coordinator, Production Manager, and Line Producer. I service both local and international productions, including documentary series for CNN and BBC, global stills campaigns (including Speedo), and more than 23 international television commercials directed by award-winning international directors. While I support worker protection where genuine long-term employment relationships exist, I am deeply concerned that a blanket reclassification of all performers and crew as employees does not reflect the structure of the film and advertising sector, which is inherently project-based and freelance-driven. An average international television commercial filmed in South Africa carries a minimum production budget of approximately R3 million. On a single job, the economic impact includes: - Hotel spend of approximately R55,000 or more - Catering costs (on-set and restaurant bookings) of approximately R100,000 - Security services - Transport companies and drivers - Equipment rental houses (camera, lighting, grip) - Cherry pickers, cranes, and rigging specialists - Special effects teams - Printing companies - Hardware suppliers (data storage and technical supplies) - Art department suppliers, prop houses, shopfitters - Wardrobe and prosthetic specialists Each production activates a wide chain of secondary and tertiary industries. Film production is not an isolated creative activity. It is a multiplier industry that stimulates hospitality, tourism, logistics, construction, retail, and technical sectors simultaneously. South Africa competes globally as a service destination. Our appeal is built on competitive costs, skilled freelance crews, operational agility, and flexible project-based hiring. If every short-term engagement is reclassified into a full employment structure, production costs and administrative burdens will increase significantly. International producers will not absorb these increases — they will relocate to alternative territories. The consequence will not only be reduced freelance income. It will be fewer international productions, reduced foreign revenue inflow, job losses across multiple sectors, contraction in hospitality and support industries, and long-term reputational damage to South Africa as a service destination. There is a fundamental difference between a performer engaged on a long-term television contract and a freelancer working a two-day commercial shoot. The proposed approach does not meaningfully distinguish between these fundamentally different engagements. Worker protection is essential. However, forcing an employment model onto independent professionals operating short-term project businesses risks destabilising an entire economic ecosystem. I respectfully request that the Department: 1. Reconsider a blanket deeming provision. 2. Engage directly with industry bodies and service production companies. 3. Develop a differentiated framework that protects vulnerable workers without undermining the freelance project model. 4. Conduct a formal economic impact assessment before implementation. The South African film industry generates foreign revenue, supports thousands of indirect jobs, and positions the country competitively in the global creative economy. Regulatory reform should strengthen that ecosystem, not unintentionally dismantle it. Thank you for the opportunity to submit this representation. Kind regards, Layla Walters 076 157 5243 Laylafilmproduction@gmail.com |
2026-02-16 17:28:47 +02:00 | Michelle | No I do not | All of the above | Loss of Income & Tax Deductions | |
2026-02-16 17:25:01 +02:00 | Simone | No I do not | Loss of Flexibility | ||
2026-02-16 17:24:27 +02:00 | Jared | No I do not | All of the above | Industry Job Losses | |
2026-02-16 17:23:17 +02:00 | Adriaan | Not fully | All of the above | Loss of Income & Tax Deductions | Reclassifying independent contractors as employees means they will no longer be able to deduct crucial business expenses incurred to generate their income. This includes travel to auditions, agent commissions, wardrobe, self-tapes, and training—resulting in a material reduction in their net income. |
2026-02-16 17:22:57 +02:00 | Richard | Yes I do | All of the above | Loss of Income & Tax Deductions | Creditors are calling and already been in credit bureaus judgement since June last year no job . Very hungry we need grant also even 350 will help . It’s been bad my bond is 3 month in arrears. |
Supported by the Department of Employment and Labour, trade unions (such as SAFTU and COSATU), and various actors’ guilds.
-
- Ending “Disguised Employment”: Supporters argue that many performers currently work under conditions identical to standard employment—including fixed hours, direct supervision, and strict control by production companies—but are labeled “independent contractors” specifically to deny them basic labour rights.
- Access to Fundamental Protections: Reclassification would guarantee vulnerable creative workers access to paid annual leave, sick leave, and maternity leave under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA).
- Workplace Injury Compensation: As employees, performers and crew would finally be covered by the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA), ensuring financial protection if they are injured or disabled on set.
- Fair Pay and Dispute Resolution: The amendment would ensure workers are protected by the National Minimum Wage Act and give them access to the CCMA to fight unfair dismissals and exploitative working conditions.
- Collective Bargaining: Formal employee status makes it easier for creative workers to unionise, negotiate standard minimum rates, and engage in legally recognized collective bargaining with major production houses.
Supported by freelance creatives, independent crew members, production companies, and industry associations.
-
- Loss of Vital Tax Deductions: This is a primary financial concern for freelancers. If reclassified as “employees,” creative professionals will lose the ability to deduct critical business expenses from their taxable income, including agent commissions, travel to auditions, wardrobe, equipment, and self-tape costs, resulting in a severe drop in net take-home pay.
- Capped Earning Potential: Opponents argue that enforcing standard regulated working hours and strict overtime limits will harm gig workers. Freelancers often maximize their income by working intensively over short periods; rigid labour laws will artificially cap what they are legally allowed to earn in a week.
- Destruction of Autonomy & Flexibility: The creative industry relies on project-based, short-term contracts. Opponents state that a “one-size-fits-all” employee classification fails to distinguish between an actor on a five-year soap opera contract and a freelance makeup artist working a two-hour commercial shoot, destroying the ability to juggle multiple clients simultaneously.
- Driving Away International Investment: Applying heavy payroll administration, leave tracking, and labour-law compliance to short-term projects will drastically increase local production costs. Opponents warn this will make South Africa uncompetitive, driving international film and advertising work—and the jobs they create—to other countries.
- Not Fit for the Gig Economy: Critics argue that while traditional labour laws work well for 9-to-5 corporate jobs, forcing the dynamic, freelance-driven creative sector into an outdated legislative box will ultimately lead to fewer gigs and massive job losses.