Bibliographie sélective OHADA

This thesis seeks to resolve the ambiguities surrounding the use of the unfair labour practice relating to the provision of “benefits” as a dispute resolution mechanism in South African labour law. This mechanism has been plagued with uncertainty, primar-ily because of the lack of a statutory definition of benefits. Evidently, the interpretation and application of benefits have been left to the courts, resulting in two diverse ap-proaches being endorsed. The first one sought to confer a narrow connotation on ben-efits, the rationale being to separate benefits from the definition of “remuneration”. It further sought to limit the use of this unfair labour practice to instances where the benefit claimed was exclusively provided for ex contractu or ex lege. The primary ob-jective was to protect the divide between disputes of right and disputes of interest, a distinction that is recognised and encouraged in our law. The second approach was one that fostered an expansive interpretation of the term, deeming it to be part of re-muneration. Needless to say it resulted in countless items being subject to determina-tion as benefit disputes. Furthermore, it extended benefits beyond those rooted in con-tract or legislation, including those granted or offered subject to the exercise of mana-gerial discretion. The supplementary challenges firstly relate to the absence of statutory direction on the standards of fairness to be applied in evaluating employer conduct. Secondly, the judiciary has provided opportunities for employees to utilise recourse other than the unfair labour practice provisions to address benefit disputes. Such leeway comes in the form of contractual recourse as well as the ability to institute strike action. In search of solutions to the problems identified above, the study explores and anal-yses the history of the unfair labour practice concept. Thereafter, an extensive exam-ination of the developments in this area of the law is undertaken. This includes a com-prehensive analysis of legislation, case law and academic writings. Having docu-mented and analysed the South African position both pre- and post-democracy, the study critically evaluates these sources of law. The study further involves a diagnostic assessment of international legal instruments and foreign law in order to extract best practices. The conclusions reached are, firstly, that an expansive interpretation of benefits is warranted. This is in line with a purposive interpretation of the LRA, which promotes the constitutional right to fair labour practices and international law. This study there-fore proposes a wide-ranging definition of the term benefits. Secondly, standards of substantive and procedural fairness have been found to be applicable in evaluating employer conduct. As such, fairness guidelines based on these standards have been developed. Thirdly, in respect of the alternate avenues available to resolve benefit disputes, it has been found that although there are strong indicators that point to a conclusion that contractual recourse has been supplanted by statutory recourse, such a finding cannot be definitively made. Furthermore, section 64(4) as it stands provides for the right to strike over unilateral changes to terms and conditions of employment, which includes unilateral changes to pre-existing benefits. However, the judiciary can limit the use of this section in benefit disputes by prioritising the substance of the dis-pute over its form. This thesis ultimately proposes the incorporation of a Code of Good Practice into the LRA. The Code of Good Practice: Benefits adopts the principal research findings of this study. It encourages the enforcement of benefit disputes through the dispute res-olution institutions set up by the LRA. The adoption of this Code (The Code of Good Practice: Benefits) will bring certitude to this field of labour law.

A priori, l’Union africaine, avec son programme pour le développement de l’Afrique connu sous le nom de NEPAD, peut être considérée comme un « moulin à prières ». Ce, en raison de nombreux documents internationaux adoptés à l’échelle régionale africaine, et de l’étroite marge de manoeuvre qu’a l’Union africaine pour trouver des solutions durables aux crises économiques et sociales qui secouent l’Afrique. Crises ayant des incidences sur l’environnement. En effet, depuis l’avènement de l’Union africaine, le développement durable est devenu dans les textes le principe directeur du processus d’intégration africaine. Cette étude analyse les efforts de l’Union africaine en vue de l’effectivité des normes du développement durable en Afrique, ainsi que la contribution de l’Afrique à l’évolution du droit international. L’analyse de l’effectivité des normes de développement durable à l’échelle régionale africaine s’est faite en deux étapes. Premièrement, on a analysé la positivité des normes africaines de développement durable dans l’ordre juridique africain au regard des standards internationaux en la matière. Deuxièmement, on a analysé la mise en oeuvre régionale des normes africaines de développement durable au regard des prescriptions des standards internationaux en la matière. Audelà de la priorisation de l’économique et du social, la façon dont l’Union africaine concilie les trois piliers du développement durable a été mise en relief. Ce travail contribue à mettre en lumière l’approche juridique de l’Union africaine vis-à-vis du développement durable, et montre comment ce concept se matérialise d’une façon particulière en Afrique. Elle analyse, d’une part, les initiatives de l’Union africaine pour traduire dans les faits les trois piliers du développement durable. Et, d’autre part, les obligations que l’Union africaine impose à ses États membres pour mettre en oeuvre ces piliers. Cette étude est également destinée à favoriser la compréhension de l’évolution de la notion de développement, de droit au développement, de développement durable, et elle met en évidence le lien entre le droit et le développement. Enfin, ce travail contribue à mettre en exergue les avancées du droit international sur la remise en cause de la notion de droit subjectif et la consécration de l’existence des « droits sans sujet » en droit international public, à travers le concept de développement durable.

Abstract : Please refer to full text to view abstract. <br>LL.M. (Commercial Law)

Illegal workers have been and continue to be the most vulnerable category of employees in the labour market, the reason for this is the invalidity of their employment contract due to illegality. For the longest time, the Labour Relations Act (hereinafter the LRA) has not been able to afford these workers protection because they did not fall within the ambit of the legal definition of ‘employee’ and the Act only recognises employees as holders of the rights provided for under the LRA. As a result of the Act not being able to protect these workers, they have become victims of exploitation and vicious abuse in the hands of their employers, making them vulnerable in their employment relationship. The law concerning illegal workers has since changed. Courts have found that these workers are in fact employees for the purposes of the LRA, and that, for an employment relationship to exist there need not be a valid employment contract in existence. An employment relationship may take various forms and the goal that the Labour Relations Act seeks to achieve is to protect those employees who find themselves vulnerable as a result of the illegality of their employment contract. It has also been argued that the law aims mostly at penalising the employer rather than the employee who is economically and socially weaker than the employer, therefore, courts have found that the Labour Relations Act should be interpreted in a manner that is consistent with the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (hereinafter the Constitution) which requires a wider interpretation of who may be afforded the right to fair labour practices.

Please refer to full text to view abstract. <br>LL.M. (Commercial Law)

No abstract provided.

Les intérêts des actionnaires et des créanciers sont moins antagonistes qu’ils ne le paraissent en dépit des différences qui les caractérisant. Les premiers n’existent pas sans les seconds et vice-versa. Cette réflexion démontre que seule leur protection concurrente constitue le soubassement de leur cohabitation fructueuse. Cette analyse explicite les mécanismes juridiques qui permettent d’assurer une cohabitation « pacifique » des intérêts des acteurs principaux de la société anonyme. Elle décortique les textes sous étude et nourrit la critique doctrinale aux riches commentaires pouvant provoquer leur relecture par les décideurs. Par ricochet, l’étude contribue à éclaircir des principes dont la compréhension garantit le maintien de l’exploitation et la viabilité financière de la société anonyme. Pour illustrer ces développements, l’analyse se sert d’une comparaison des dispositions de l’Acte uniforme de l’OHADA portant sur le droit des sociétés commerciales et groupement d’intérêt économique et du Code burundais des sociétés privées et à participation publique.

En fonction de la gravité des difficultés rencontrées, le tiers ainsi désigné doit rechercher et obtenir discrètement ou publiquement un accord amiable capable de mettre fin aux difficultés. La confidentialité dans la recherche des solutions ne peut être qu'un facteur de succès des techniques de prévention par son effet incitatif au dialogue. Seulement, en face de difficultés économiques et financières avérées, la discrétion pourrait au contraire être préjudiciable au sauvetage de l'entreprise de même qu'aux intérêts de ses partenaires. Le voile du secret doit ainsi être ôté au profit d'une gestion transparente de la défaillance de l'entité économique.

Please refer to full text to view abstract. <br>LL.M. (International Commercial Law)

Article 6.8 of the Antidumping Agreement (AD) allows domestic investigating authorities to make determinations on the basis of the best information available (BIA) when any interested party does not cooperate during an antidumping investigation under the discipline of Annex II of the AD. Since its introduction, this provision has been the source of extensive and neverending litigation in front of both domestic investigating authorities and the Dispute Settlement Body. In this thesis, we research to what extent the findings of the Panels and the Appellate Body regarding Article 6.8 AD are consistent with the mandate set out in Articles 3.2, 11 DSU and 17.6 AD and to what extent they are reasonable from an economic perspective. To answer the first question, we first discuss Articles 3.2, 11 DSU and 17.6 AD to establish what is the mandate of the Panels and the Appellate Body under the Dispute Settlement Body. We then examine the findings of the Panels and the Appellate Body in the interpretation of the seven terms of Article 6.8 AD under the previously established mandate. To answer the second question, we summarize the latest developments in the economic theory of adjudication and litigation. We then discuss the findings of the Panels and the Appellate Body using this economic standard. In the conclusion, we compare the results of our analysis with current negotiations on Article 6.8 AD in the Doha Round framework and further discuss the opportunity to create a single united international investigating authority.

Please refer to full text to view abstract. <br>LL.M. (Commercial Law)

Desire for quick and affordable justice is universal. Right to speedy trial is a right to life and personal liberty of every citizen guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, which ensures just, fair and reasonable procedure. Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms have become more crucial for businesses operating in India as well as those doing businesses with Indian firms. There are various reasons for which ADR is preferred over the conventional way of resolving the disputes. India being a developing country, going through major economic reforms within the framework of the rule of law, for expeditious resolution of disputes and lessening the burden on the courts, alternative mechanisms for resolution (ADR) are the only alternative through arbitration, conciliation, mediation and negotiation.

Please refer to full text to view abstract. <br>LL.M. (Commercial Law)