Irvin & Johnson Limited v Trawler & Line Fishing Union and Others (C1126/2002) [2002] ZALC 105; (2003) 24 ILJ 565 (LC); 2003 (3) SA 212 (LC); [2003] 4 BLLR 379 (LC) (17 December 2002)

Irvin & Johnson Limited v Trawler & Line Fishing Union and Others (C1126/2002) [2002] ZALC 105; (2003) 24 ILJ 565 (LC); 2003 (3) SA 212 (LC); [2003] 4 BLLR 379 (LC) (17 December 2002)

The Labour Court held that section 7(2) of the Employment Equity Act only prohibits HIV testing where the employer is enabled to ascertain the HIV status of an identifiable employee. The proposed testing by the applicant is both anonymous and voluntary, ensuring that the employer cannot identify the HIV status of...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2002] ZALC 105
Parties
Applicant: Irvin & Johnson Limited; Respondent: Trawler & Line Fishing Union; Respondent: National Certificated Fishing & Allied Workers Union; Respondent: Those employees of applicant whose names are listed in Annexure “A” hereto
Court
Labour Court
Jurisdiction
South Africa
Case Number
C1126/2002
Procedural Posture
Declaratory Application / Unopposed Application for Declaratory Relief Before the Labour Court
Outcome
Application for declaratory relief granted. No order as to costs.
Judges
OL Rogers
Legal Topics
Employment Equity Act, Hiv Testing, Voluntary Testing, Medical Testing, Workplace Discrimination
Labour Law Civil Procedure Employment Equity Act Hiv Testing Voluntary Testing Medical Testing Workplace Discrimination

Source-derived case record

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Parties

Irvin & Johnson Limited

Applicant

Trawler & Line Fishing Union

Respondent

National Certificated Fishing & Allied Workers Union

Respondent

Those employees of applicant whose names are listed in Annexure “A” hereto

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Declaratory Application / Unopposed Application for Declaratory Relief Before the Labour Court

  1. 1 Whether anonymous and voluntary HIV testing of employees by the applicant falls within the ambit of section 7(2) of the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998.
  2. 2 Whether the applicant requires Labour Court authorisation for such testing.
  3. 3 Whether voluntary and anonymous medical testing constitutes 'medical testing' as defined by the Act.

Ratio Decidendi

The Labour Court held that section 7(2) of the Employment Equity Act only prohibits HIV testing where the employer is enabled to ascertain the HIV status of an identifiable employee. The proposed testing by the applicant is both anonymous and voluntary, ensuring that the employer cannot identify the HIV status of any individual employee and that participation is entirely at the discretion of the employee, with no disadvantage for refusal. The Court found support for this interpretation in the statutory language, the Code of Good Practice, and general principles of waiver. The Court concluded that neither anonymous nor voluntary testing falls within the ambit of section 7(2), and thus the...

Court Disposition

Application for declaratory relief granted. No order as to costs.

Orders

  • It is declared that the anonymous and voluntary medical testing on the third to further respondents, as detailed in the founding affidavit of Trevor Earl Brodrick, does not fall within the ambit of section 7(2) of the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998.
  • No order as to costs is made.