Setting Up a Company

Types of Companies and Capital (Max/Min)	Number of Partners/Shareholders and Liability
Private Limited Company No legal limit	Minimum number is 1; while as the maximum number is 50. Liability limited to the amount contributed.
Public Limited Company . No legal limit	Minimum number is 7; while as there is no limit on the maximum number of members/shareholders. The liability of a member is limited to the face value of the shares he owns
Close Corporation No minimum capital.	1 partner Liability is limited to the amount contributed.
Partnership No minimum capital.	Minimum 2; Maximum 20 partners. Liabiltity of the active partners is unlimited. Liability of the sleeping partner is limited to the amount contributed.

The Competent Organization: Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office
Search a Company or a Financial Report: CIPC, Companies and Intellectual Property Commission

Source: Doing Business.

Business Setup Procedures: Consult Doing Business Website, to know about procedures to start a Business in South Africa.
The Register of Commerce

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration: 45 hours in a week or 9 hours in a day. For employees who work a 6-day week, it is 8 hours per day.
Retirement Age: The retirement age is 65 for men and 60 for women.
Working Contracts: Employment is mainly regulated by the law of contract and by Labour Relations Act (LRA),1995. The contract should clearly mention : maximum hours of work, overtime rates, minimum periods of annual leave, notice of termination, organizational rights in respect of trade unions, strike law, rights and responsibilities of employers and workers in the event of retrenchments, insolvency and transfers of businesses, protection from unfair dismissal and the prohibition of unfair discrimination.

Minimum Wage: South Africa does not have a national minimum wage, but the Minister of Labour can make sectoral determinations, which may include a basic remuneration level. Legislation differentiates between urban and rural areas.
Average Wage: Average monthly gross earnings in South Africa is ZAR 8,500 (USD 1,100).
Social contributions: Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: 1%
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: 1 %.

Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners: For effective bargaining, South Africa has Bargaining Council system. Bargaining takes place between the employers and trade unions under the auspices of the Bargaining Council. The collective agreements concluded in the Bargaining Council bind only the parties to the Bargaining Council.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is the largest and most effective trade union in South Africa. It is affiliated with the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party. COSATU represents 21 national industrial affiliates.
Unions: COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions)
FEDUSA (Federation of Unions of South Africa)
Unionization Rate: 30% (approximately)
Labor Regulation Bodies: Department of Labour, Government of South Africa

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