Revised Social and Labour Plan Guidelines

The Revised Social and Labour Plan Guidelines, published by the Centre for Environmental Rights in October 2010, provide a framework for applicants for mining and production rights in South Africa to develop Social and Labour Plans (SLPs). These plans are a prerequisite for granting rights under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (MPRDA) and are designed to transform the mining industry by promoting employment, socio-economic development, and the advancement of Historically Disadvantaged South Africans (HDSA).

• The Social and Labour Plan (SLP) is a mandatory requirement for the granting of mining or production rights under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (MPRDA). The SLP remains valid until a closure certificate is issued in terms of section 43 of the Act and cannot be amended without the consent of the Minister once the right has been granted.
• The Human Resource Development Programme within the SLP must focus on developing requisite skills through learnerships, bursaries, artisan training, and Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) levels I through IV and NQF 1. It requires detailed plans for career progression, mentorship, and the identification of 'hard-to-fill vacancies' that have remained open for more than 12 months.
• Mining companies are required to implement an Employment Equity Plan to ensure the participation of Historically Disadvantaged South Africans (HDSA) in decision-making and core occupational categories. The guidelines specify a minimum target of 40% HDSA demographic representation, with progressive annual targets for various management levels (Top, Senior, Middle, and Junior) and core skills leading up to 2014.
• Mine Community Economic Development plans must be formulated in consultation with communities and aligned with Integrated Development Plans (IDP), Provincial Growth and Development Strategies (PGDS), and National Spatial Development Strategies (NSDS). These plans must include social and economic baseline information, identify negative impacts of mining (such as relocation of people or influx of informal settlements), and propose infrastructure and income-generating projects.
• The guidelines mandate specific targets for improving housing and living conditions for the workforce, including the conversion or upgrading of hostels into single quarters and family units by 2014. The goal is to achieve an occupancy rate of one person per room by 2014, with progressive targets starting from a 2010 baseline (25% in 2011, 50% in 2012, 75% in 2013, and 100% in 2014).
• To manage downscaling and retrenchment, companies must establish a 'Future Forum' comprising management and workers within six months of converting an old order mining right or two years after a new right is granted. This forum is tasked with identifying productivity and employment challenges and developing turnaround strategies to reduce job losses.
• Financial provision for the SLP must be provided in monetary value (Rand) and is the sole responsibility of the mining right holder. This provision must cover all components of the SLP, including human resource development, local economic development, and the management of downscaling.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2010). Revised Social and Labour Plan Guidelines. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/SLP-guidelines-2010.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. Revised Social and Labour Plan Guidelines. 2010. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/SLP-guidelines-2010.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=Revised Social and Labour Plan Guidelines |date=October 2010 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/SLP-guidelines-2010.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrights2010revised, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{Revised Social and Labour Plan Guidelines}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2010}, month = oct, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/SLP-guidelines-2010.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }