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Venolan Naidoo: Hello and welcome to the Fasken Legal Podcast.
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I'm Venolan Naidoo, I'm a partner at Fasken Johannesburg office in the Department of Labour and Employment,
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human rights group. A bit of my background.
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I advise clients on various labour and employment issues, as well as advising clients on AI governance issues.
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Data privacy law in conjunction with Popia.
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I'm pretty ecstatic about the intersection between the changing workplace landscape in relation to technology,
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the law, compliance, and people. I've had the honour of contributing to the University of the Western Cape's Centre for Transformative
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Regulation of Work. This was focused on non-standard workers that typically work through digital platforms.
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The project, which has guided the National Economic Development Council, also known as Nedlac,
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on the proposed labour laws amendments on non-standard workers.
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I've also been privileged to have been the National President of the South African Society for Labour Law for two terms,
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which has provided me with further insight on the constant development of our labour relations law.
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I've written extensively and presented at events on various topics.
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This has covered the workplace and the law as well as on the technological impact given the advent of AI.
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In this podcast series, I aim to cover and navigate for you the evolving new ways of work and the future of work,
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and what best to be prepared for and plan ahead for.
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Today, I'm covering an overview of what will be discussed in upcoming episodes in the evolving world of work,
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from various vantage points in conjunction with current affairs.
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In this podcast series, I advocate for good workplace relations, whether your workplace is flourishing or when faced with downsizing and
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having to relook at alternative or other new employment approaches for employees,
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this could be based on technological changes and the like.
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Whether this may be upskilling or reskilling certain segments of the workforce to align with such changes or considering other ways of
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workplace adaptability. In the coming months, I'll be covering various topics or themes,
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and these are AI taking a hold in a multitude of sectors and industries, and how to manage many of the unforeseen legal risks at the workplace when
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it comes to AI, as well as other disruptions, including other technological impacts on the workplace.
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I'll also be looking at the evolving work arrangements, taking into account both workplace efficiency as well as employee wellbeing.
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We will also be looking at the globalized world of work, employment, mobility and the approach on regulating employment relationships that go beyond
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borders in other countries. The ever-changing outlook on mental health and the workplace.
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We will also look at non-standard workers, also known as gig workers, in South Africa,
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especially in light of the recent Uber and other ride hailing strikes taking place,
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but also considering non-standard workers in certain instances as an alternative work model to possibly gain special skills and other talent.
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This would create more opportunity in this relatively new segment of workers in particular industries.
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The future of employment and other possible new forms of work.
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What would it look like in the coming years, especially from a South African context?
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As mentioned earlier, we will consider a new look at skills development in which employers would need to possibly invest in their workforce
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training to best equip their employees for the skills needed in the future that would ultimately form part of that workplace in a new landscape.
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And lastly, managing the ever-evolving workplace.
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In times of technological change, whether through automation or economic uncertainty in certain industries,
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including the recent tariffs placed by the US and what to plan ahead for.
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We are living in a world of constant change, and having such insight in navigating through this change would indeed be critical for employers and
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organizations. The ultimate aim of this legal podcast series is to keep abreast of these changes,
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and to provide legal and industry insight in what to best plan ahead for in a changing workplace environment.
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This undoubtedly requires adaptability in fostering a work environment that is both productive as a net output for the workplace,
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as well as being satisfying for employee wellbeing than for part of it.
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These are some of the topics in the world of work that we will be covering in the coming episodes.
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What's happening now and how we can help you?
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These will indeed be discussed in the coming episodes.
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I'm Venolan Naidoo. Of course, feel free to reach out to me and I look forward to hosting the series in meeting you to help you your
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business in dealing with the changing world of work.
