Why the Fair Pay Bill could transform recruitment practices

HAVE you ever been asked to submit your payslip by a prospective employer, before you've even sat down for the interview? For many South Africans, it’s a routine (and often frustrating) part of the job search. But that could soon change.

- DIEKETSENG MALEKE

The recently tabled Fair Pay Bill aims to put an end to this outdated practice and usher in a more equitable era of recruitment.

If passed, it would prohibit employers from requesting your current or previous salary history and instead require them to be upfront about what they’re willing to pay. In short, transparency becomes the rule, not the exception.

According to Norma Mazibuko, partner, and Amandla Makhongwana, senior associate at Bowmans South Africa: “This is a game-changer for both employers and job seekers and, if passed, is set to reshape recruitment, pay practices, and workplace culture across the country.” That statement isn’t just hopeful, it’s a challenge to longstanding hiring norms.

Mazibuko and Makhongwana say South Africa isn’t alone in rethinking how pay is structured. The European Union’s Pay Transparency Directive is set for roll-out by June 2026, while several US states have already banned questions about salary history. The trend is clear: the world is moving towards fairer pay, and we’d be wise not to be left behind.