exercise of power given under section 11 of the Act by the Minister, has
resulted in a situation where domestic workers have been disadvantaged.
63. The Court is aware that, indirect discrimination demands tribunals to look
beneath the surface and consider the consequences of State’s conduct and laws
to ensure that there is no discrimination, on the basis of an analogous or
prohibited ground, lurking underneath. This Court holds the view that the
inclusion of domestic workers in the Minister’s Pension (Exemption) Order,
does not amount to any indirect discrimination. Domestic workers are not
exempted from the mandatory occupation pension scheme ‘based on attributes
or characteristics which have the potential to impair the fundamental dignity
of persons as human beings, or to affect them seriously in a comparable
serious manner.’1
64. It is our firm belief that the exemption of domestic workers recognizes the
unique and informal nature of domestic work which makes it impossible for
them to be put on pension in the same manner as employees in formal
employment. We are persuaded by the Attorney General’s submission that the
categorical distinction is rationally connected to legitimate governmental
purposes including administrative feasibility, financial and compliance
implications, employment protection, and progressive policy implementation.
1
Harksen v Lane NO and Others 1998 (1) SA 300 (CC) para 46. This South African case reported on
SAFLII defines an analogous ground of discrimination.
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