Bibliographie sélective OHADA

Section 23(5) of the Insolvency Act poses an interesting challenge, namely vesting a portion of an insolvent’s post-sequestration income in the trustee of the insolvent estate without infringing on the insolvent’s constitutional rights. The income earned by the insolvent during sequestration is in general excluded from his estate and does not vest in the trustee, unless the Master determines that a portion of the insolvent’s income will not be required to maintain the insolvent and his dependents. In such a case, only the portion deemed to be surplus to requirements will be included in the insolvent estate and will vest in the trustee. The question of what role the insolvent’s income should play during the sequestration process, and therefore how section 23(5) should be interpreted and applied, has vexed the courts and numerous practical and constitutional issues arise. This study examines the application and shortcomings of section 23(5) during the administration phase of the sequestration process. It then explores the lessons learned during the recent constitutional scrutiny and subsequent amendment of the emoluments attachment process. Lastly, recommendations are made for possible law reform of section 23(5).

With the adoption of the Act to amend the Environment Quality Act in order to reinforce compliance in 2011, the legislator came to establish a system of administrative monetary penalties for the protection of the environment. This new regime aims for a faster sanction that can be issued directly by the administrative power. This new sanction not only strengthens the applicability of the Environment Quality Act, but it also adds an additional burden to Quebec businesses. The objective of this thesis is to understand to what extent the system of administrative monetary penalties impacts the liability of administrators. To do this, we will first present the Environment Quality Act, which mainly governs the protection of the environment in Quebec, and above all describe the nature and objective of this system of administrative monetary penalties. Next, we will deal with certain aspects of this regime which have implications for administrator's liability. Finally, we will attempt to briefly introduce some of the observations we have made regarding the challenges and limitations of this administrative regime. Avec l’adoption de la Loi modifiant la Loi sur la qualité de l’environnement afin d’en renforcer le respect en 2011, le législateur est venu instaurer un régime de sanctions administratives pécuniaires en matière de protection de l’environnement. Ce nouveau régime vise une sanction plus rapide qui peut être émise directement par le pouvoir administratif. Cette nouvelle sanction renforce non seulement l’applicabilité de la Loi sur la qualité de l’environnement, mais elle ajoute en même temps un fardeau supplémentaire aux entreprises québécoises. L’objectif de ce mémoire est de comprendre dans quelle mesure le régime de sanctions administratives pécuniaires impacte la responsabilité des administrateurs. Pour ce faire, nous allons d’abord présenter la Loi sur la qualité de l’environnement qui encadre principalement la protection de l’environnement au Québec et surtout décrire la nature et l’objectif de ce régime de sanctions administratives pécuniaires. Ensuite, nous traiterons de certains aspects de ce régime qui entraînent des conséquences au niveau de la responsabilité des administrateurs. Finalement, nous tenterons d’introduire brièvement certaines remarques que nous avons tirées concernant les défis et limites de ce régime administratif.

This dissertation explores the evolution of explicit deposit insurance schemes (EDIS) in Southern African countries. It emphasises the important role of banks in the economy and their vulnerability to failures despite prudential requirements and supervision. Financial safety nets are essential for failing banks, and deposit insurance is the primary mechanism to protect depositors and maintain financial system stability in the event of a bank's failure. Originating in 1933 with the establishment of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in the United States of America during the Great Depression, EDIS has become a global standard. Southern Africa, with its developing financial sector, faces many challenges including bank failures, causing depositors to lose funds. The region's high interconnectedness increases the threat of contagion if parent banks fail. The absence of deposit insurance raises the likelihood of fiscal authorities succumbing to political pressure to bailout failing banks during crises as seen during the 2007-09 Global Financial Crisis (GFC). The GFC prompted the International Association of Deposit Insurers and the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision to establish the Core Principles for Effective Deposit Insurance Systems. Issued in June 2009, these principles are used by jurisdictions as a benchmark for assessing the quality of their deposit insurance systems and identifying gaps in their deposit insurance practices. This research aims to evaluate international best practice standards for EDIS and extract lessons from the establishment of EDIS in the USA to address gaps in the implementation of deposit insurance schemes in Southern African countries. Examining ten Southern African countries, this research investigates varied progress in EDIS adoption. Case studies, particularly Zimbabwe as a pioneer of EDIS in the region and Namibia as a recent entrant, help to identify gaps and opportunities for enhancing deposit insurance frameworks in the region.

A Tese aborda a reparação dos danos morais por ricochete no Direito Civil brasileiro a partir de perspectiva histórica, empírica e comparada. Objetiva-se contribuir para a definição de critérios da reparação sob dois aspectos: a legitimidade para postulação do ressarcimento e a quantificação do dano. Para tanto, investiga-se a construção da responsabilidade civil por danos morais por ricochete nos ordenamentos jurídicos francês, português e alemão e na jurisprudência de cada país e, depois, examina-se o histórico desta reparação no Direito Civil brasileiro. Em seguida, analisa-se o enfrentamento dos temas centrais pelo Supremo Tribunal Federal e pelo Superior Tribunal de Justiça, em virtude de na jurisprudência verificar-se a tentativa de definição de alguns parâmetros a regerem a reparação dos danos extrapatrimoniais por ricochete. Avalia-se os conceitos e fundamentos legal, doutrinário e jurisprudencial deste tipo de dano e os riscos e vantagens de estabelecer-se, no Brasil, critérios restritivos de indenização, à semelhança do que ocorre nos ordenamentos português e alemão. Por fim, conclui-se que não há critério efetivamente firmado no STJ a respeito da definição da legitimidade para postulação do ressarcimento, pelo que se sugere a adoção de modelo restritivo a partir da utilização da ordem de vocação hereditária estabelecida no artigo 1.829 do Código Civil, à semelhança dos modelos português e alemão, a fim de garantir segurança jurídica e estabilidade conceitual ao tema. A respeito da quantificação do dano, propõe-se não a utilização de tarifação, mas de regulação da quantificação, observando-se os elementos seguintes: (a) possibilidades econômico-financeiras de ofensor e vítima reflexa; (b) grau de culpa do ofensor; (c) extensão do dano reflexo; (d) quantidade de vítimas reflexamente atingidas pelo mesmo evento danoso; e (e) proximidade do vínculo de parentesco entre vítima direta e vítima reflexa.

La mondialisation de l'économie de marché ouvre de nouveaux horizons aux entreprises commerciales en étant source de croissance, d'emplois et de prospérité, même si elle engendre aussi des risques, en particulier lorsque les entreprises développent des activités dans des zones en proie à des conflits armés, internationaux ou internes, ou dans des territoires occupés.Les entreprises sont incitées par la société civile et les organisations internationales à tenir de plus en plus compte du droit relatif aux droits de l'homme, qui s'applique tant en période de conflit armé que de paix.Le droit international humanitaire, alors même qu'il est spécifiquement conçu pour régir des situations de conflit armé, qu'il a des effets importants pour elles lorsqu'elles opèrent dans des pays qui connaissent de telles situations, leur est moins connu et fait moins l'objet d'attention par la doctrine, notamment francophone.Un certain nombre de contentieux récents ont soulevé des interrogations en la matière, tant sur le plan de la protection des entreprises par le corpus du droit international humanitaire, que sur celui de la soumission des entreprises à ces règles.Cette thèse analyse l'applicabilité du droit international humanitaire aux entreprises commerciales, à leurs salariés, leurs biens, leurs activités qui peuvent être à la fois des cibles, des victimes, des participants des conflits armés, voire des auteurs de violations du droit international humanitaire, soulevant des interrogations relatives à l'adaptation et la pertinence du DIH à ces entités.

Environmental reclamation obligations are statutory mechanisms designed to regulate environmental protection by corporate entities. Bankruptcy laws on the other hand are meant to offer insolvent corporations an opportunity to reorganize their affairs, satisfy creditors claims and make a fresh start. In practice, the application of bankruptcy laws can undermine key environmental reclamation objectives, leading many to ask whether a corporation undergoing restructuring with significant outstanding environmental reclamation obligations should be able to commence bankruptcy proceedings to satisfy creditors’ claims? By employing the doctrinal and comparative research methodologies, this research interrogates that inquiry. It argues that, despite the importance of bankruptcy protection for corporations undergoing financial distress, environmental protection should be paramount. Although sustainable finance (SF) instruments have been deployed by banks to enable creditors to mitigate environmental concerns in their investments, the persistent recurrence of environmental reclamation issues in the oil and gas sector particularly during insolvencies, underscores the need for financial investors to strengthen their investment policies to reflect best practices providing the desired protection for the environment. The research finds that, although SF and environmental, social and governance (ESG) approaches, are commendable, they are insufficient in instilling adequate regulatory impact on the environment compared to judicial control offered by the courts. The thesis concludes that whilst judicial control mechanism is not without concerns, with government’s deliberate financial policy and judicial control to complement SF and ESG efforts, ESG and SF mechanisms can be strengthened to compel greater significant influence on best practices in lending.

A história moderna da humanidade vem demonstrando que jaz míope a visão de que determinado país e sua economia podem viver e sobreviver em estado de isolamento hermético ante a economia globalizada. Não é concebível que determinada sociedade possa se desenvolver sem interação com investidores estrangeiros. Mesmo em países que, por opção ideológica, há certo isolamento, vemos hoje a existência de investimentos estrangeiros, ainda que sejam originados em outros países com o mesmo viés ideológico. Desta forma, os países em desenvolvimento e, em especial para o trabalho que aqui se apresenta, o Brasil têm que compreender as possíveis estruturas jurídicas e econômicas, bem como de políticas públicas que expressam tais estruturas, para poder pretender se credenciar como atrativos destinos de investimentos estrangeiros, seja pela outorga de benefícios (diretos ou indiretos), seja pela segurança ao investidor. No Brasil, entretanto, essa atratividade deve ser sopesada com a preservação de valores fundantes de nossa Constituição, congruentes com o ordenamento jurídico nacional e, ainda, devem ser, depois de efetivado o investimento, acompanhado por um sistema que imponha transparência e solidez ao cumprimento das contrapartidas desejadas: notadamente a geração de emprego e renda e de contribuição para a criação da riqueza nacional. O ponto central do presente trabalho gira em torno dos fundamentos jurídicos para a atração e manutenção, bem como a construção de um possível sistema de aferição da solidez jurídica de políticas de incentivo ao capital estrangeiro.

A presente tese tem por escopo analisar a proteção dos trabalhadores em plataformas digitais. Sob o viés específico, investiga como o Direito do Trabalho pode assumir seu protagonismo na tutela dos motoristas via aplicativos. O trabalho em plataformas digitais já é uma realidade tanto no cotidiano brasileiro quanto nos demais países. São milhares de trabalhadores espalhados por inúmeras atividades via plataformas digitais, havendo crescimento exponencial nessa seara, o que propicia oportunidades, avanços e desafios. Ocorre que, até o momento, ainda não foi definido o standard de proteção aplicáveis a esses trabalhadores, havendo vazio protetivo que gera precariedades, insegurança jurídica e controvérsias judiciais. Por tais razões, a regulação dessa nova forma de trabalho constitui desafio global. Questiona-se: qual é a proteção adequada para os trabalhadores em plataforma digital? Em busca de respostas coerentes, concebe-se que o Direito do Trabalho pode assumir sua eterna juventude, adaptar-se aos novos tempos e se reinventar para proteger também esses novos trabalhadores. A tese defende um regime jurídico moderno, compatível e pacificador, capaz de harmonizar proteção social e segurança jurídica, valor social do trabalho e livre iniciativa, dignidade da pessoa humana e meio ambiente de trabalho saudável. Essa justa medida pode ser encontrada entre a intervenção estatal mínima e a autorregulamentação das partes. Cabendo ao Estado assegurar a dignidade de todos os trabalhadores, no âmbito da livre iniciativa, identifica-se núcleo fundamental de direitos aplicáveis aos trabalhadores em plataformas digitais, levando-se em conta as transformações do mundo de trabalho; respeitada essa normativa mínima do tipo cláusula pétrea ou espaço vital e inflexível, caberá aos próprios atores sociais regular essa peculiar atividade laboral, o que confere maior efetividade, segurança jurídica e adaptação às transformações sociais.

A Lei de Recuperação Judicial e Falência, após a reforma de 2020, permitiu que a maioria dos credores, organizados em assembleia, possam impor medidas à empresa em recuperação judicial e aos seus sócios, nos termos do art. 56, § 4o e seguintes. Embora diversas medidas possam ser adotadas pelo plano dos credores, como é o caso das determinações de aspecto exclusivamente patrimonial e a alteração da administração da empresa em recuperação judicial, algumas providências não podem ser impostas sem que haja a anuência dos sócios, nos termos da legislação societária, como é o caso da fusão, incorporação e transformação. A capitalização dos créditos em recuperação judicial, inclusive com a alteração de controle, é expressamente admitida pela Lei de Recuperação Judicial e Falências, o que enseja, em determinados casos, o exercício do direito de retirada pelos sócios do devedor. O cálculo do recesso para fins de exercício do direito de retirada deve ocorrer mediante um critério exclusivamente patrimonial, sem que seja permitido que os sócios retirantes possam se valer da expectativa de lucratividade futura da sociedade no cálculo do valor da empresa para fins de recesso. O crédito decorrente do direito de retirada possui natureza extraconcursal e não se sujeita aos efeitos da recuperação judicial. Seu pagamento, entretanto, deve ocorrer de maneira compatível com a preservação da empresa, mediante a utilização de um percentual dos resultados futuros, sem que seja possível a venda de ativos da empresa em recuperação para pagamento dos sócios retirantes.

À lire certains professionnels du droit, le décompte du temps de travail aurait fait son temps. Les cadres ne « compteraient pas leur temps », le décompte serait lié à la « civilisation de l’usine », et plus structurellement le temps ne serait plus un étalon pertinent de mesure du travail. À ces doutes, il s’agit d’affirmer l’utilité permanente du décompte du temps de travail. La question de l’importance du décompte du temps de travail est étroitement liée à celle du rôle et de la place du temps de travail. Ces interrogations relatives au décompte du temps de travail découlent principalement de la remise en cause du temps comme outil de mesure et de limitation du travail. Au contraire, c’est en affirmant la permanence du temps à pouvoir et à devoir remplir de telles fonctions que l’intérêt et l’importance du décompte du temps de travail se révèlent. Qu’il s’agisse de mesurer ou de limiter le travail, le temps ne peut remplir ces fonctions qu’à condition d’être décompté. Autrement dit, c’est le décompte du temps de travail qui permet au temps de remplir ses fonctions de mesure et de limitation du travail. L’intérêt du décompte du temps de travail se dévoile à l’aune de la fonction, générique, du temps comme unité de conversion. Le temps constitue en effet une unité de conversion objective et universelle, qu’il s’agisse de déterminer l’engagement du salarié, de déterminer et quantifier le salaire, de protéger par un salaire minimum horaire, ou encore de garantir la protection de la santé et des temps de liberté. Or, ces fonctions de mesure et de limitation du travail sont intrinsèquement liées à la nature du contrat de travail, défini et caractérisé par la subordination du salarié à l’employeur. S’interroger sur l’importance du décompte du temps de travail consistera à questionner le rapport qu’il entretient avec l’existence, la formation et la construction du contrat de travail tel que caractérisé par la subordination. Dans cette étude, on cherche à identifier les enjeux du décompte du temps de travail, les façons d’y procéder, les difficultés rencontrées et les solutions apportées. Pour déterminer si le décompte du temps de travail est une condition au contrat de travail, il y a d’abord besoin d’examiner dans quelle mesure le décompte du temps de travail s’avère utile au regard du droit du travail. Il s’agit d’affirmer la nécessité de procéder à un décompte du temps de travail, qui découle d’une multitude d’énoncés au service desquels le décompte du temps de travail intervient. Pour apprécier si le droit positif est à la hauteur de cette nécessité, il s’agit ensuite d’évaluer l’obligation de décompter le temps de travail, et de voir comment cette obligation est appréhendée, abordée et imposée par le droit du travail. Il en ressort que le décompte du temps de travail est un élément consubstantiel de l’idée de salariat et un élément structurant du droit du travail. Et il demeure tel, même s’il est aujourd’hui attaqué. Le droit du travail s’évertue donc à imposer le décompte du temps de travail. Il s’agit de l’une de ses dimensions essentielles. D’ailleurs, même lorsqu’il ouvre des brèches dans les frontières du temps de travail, comme avec le forfait-jour, il ne réussit pas à s’abstraire totalement de la nécessité du décompte, et même du décompte horaire. Le décompte résiste partout, puisqu’il doit résister, puisqu’il en va de l’essence de la subordination et donc de l’essence de la relation de travail salarié.Le décompte du temps de travail, même s’il contesté comme le sont tous les piliers du droit du travail, demeure et demeurera. Il est au cœur de la relation de travail, et il y restera tant que le travail subordonné existera.

A tese visou analisar o sentido e alcance do artigo 130 do Código Civil. Essa tarefa, no entanto, foi precedida por estudo da estrutura e função da condição dentro do quadro do negócio jurídico, provocando o debate sobre sua utilização, inclusive atípica. Analisou-se dogmaticamente o elemento condição na teoria geral do negócio jurídico, sob uma perspectiva crítica para, depois, estudar a fase de pendência e as obrigações dela decorrentes para os figurantes e as possibilidades em tema de atos conservativos, nessa etapa tão característica do negócio condicionado, oferecendo novos enfoques para o assunto. Isso se fez de modo propositivo, aproveitando ainda para ponderar sobre as implicações da cláusula geral de boa-fé nessa matéria. Por fim, apresenta rol de considerações de caráter operativo, tentando estabelecer a conexão entre os atos conservativos a que alude a lei civil, com as devidas repercussões processuais.

L'e-sport est actuellement en phase de développement économique constant. Toutefois, au regard de la nouveauté de la pratique, le cadre juridique peine parfois à s'adapter afin de rendre la pratique e-sportive pérenne économique et stable au regard de son cadre juridique. Il est dès lors important de structurer juridiquement l'e-sport afin de lui offrir un cadre économique solide. Cette pratique spécifique appelle une structuration par le droit du numérique et le droit de la propriété intellectuelle, cette recherche consiste ainsi à trouver un modèle pérenne de cadre juridique pour l'e-sport en s'inspirant de régimes déjà existants (droit du sport, de la propriété intellectuelle, de la concurrence ou encore droit de l'audiovisuel entre autres) afin que la pratique se développe sans entrave économique et par le prisme des technologies numériques en constante évolution. Cette recherche fait appel à des mécanismes déjà existants en droit, à des règlementations déjà applicables mais aussi à l'aménagement de nouvelles règles de droit, adaptées à la pratique e-sportive.

Au-delà de l’aspect numérique, Satoshi, fondateur anonyme du bitcoin, évoque l’organisation de « Pair à Pair » (P2P). Elle correspond à l’algorithmique répartie sur laquelle le registre décentralisé de ces nouveaux actifs se fonde. Mais le Règlement MiCA exclut la finance décentralisée et ne donne aucune définition satisfaisante des crypto-actifs. On étend cette observation aux actifs numériques, insuffisamment cernés en droit français. L’analyse de l’organisation P2P s’impose. On a identifié chez certains jetons une organisation participative, distincte des groupements et des contrats-coopération. Elle se caractérise par un degré et une forme d’indépendance nouvelle ainsi que par une socialité orientée vers un objet de nature impersonnelle, ouverte vers l’extérieur et sans structure (ni groupements ni contrats). Elle façonne ainsi la structure d’émission et la forme représentative et négociable de ces jetons. Ils sont des écrits représentant un bien ou un service et non un droit à l’encontre d’une personne émettrice. Ils sont émis dans une organisation participative : sans partage de pertes, de bénéfices, de chiffres d’affaires ou d’autres fruits. Leur qualification civiliste est le produit et non le fruit, contrairement aux titres financiers. L’organisation participative, elle, s’analyse comme un système, une nouvelle catégorie juridique que l’ordre juridique peut accueillir. L’ouverture du système vers l’extérieur nécessite la négociabilité des jetons. Elle concourt à la financiarisation de l’économie réelle. Comme la structure d’émission de ces jetons participatifs, leur infrastructure polycentrique de négociation appelle une régulation par l’organisation. Ces jetons sont aussi hybrides parce que participatifs et monétaires, et en tant que tels peuvent être considérés comme des unités de financement ; nouvelle définition de la monnaie que l’on propose, pour ne pas la réduire à sa seule fonction de paiement. Les jetons participatifs perturbent la summa divisio entre la monnaie et les instruments financiers ainsi que le concept même de droit subjectif.

Consentement à l’acte médical, à l’adoption, au traitement de données personnelles, aux relations sexuelles : le terme de consentement occupe une place particulière en droit des personnes. Cette thèse propose d’apporter des réponses à cette problématique sociale fondamentale à partir d’une approche critique du droit. Un nouveau regard peut ainsi être porté sur le consentement en l’appréhendant à la fois comme un phénomène politique et comme une réalité sociale. Le consentement en droit français correspond en premier lieu à un phénomène politique. Loin de jouer le rôle libéral qui lui est classiquement prêté, il représente plutôt une norme idéologique humaniste. Norme également fonctionnelle, le consentement permet aux pouvoirs publics de préserver l’ordre social. Le consentement représente en second lieu une réalité sociale. Les théories générales civilistes ne permettent pas de se saisir de cette réalité car, malgré leur attrait, elles présentent des limites. Nous proposons de nous tourner vers les analyses de justice sociale. Elles permettent d’identifier les inégalités sociales intersectionnelles qui affectent les consentements. Des analyses de justice sociale offrent également un cadre pour y répondre juridiquement. Le consentement peut ainsi être conçu comme un processus de reconnaissance et être encadré comme tel en droit.

As sociedades de propósito específico (SPEs) não configuram um tipo societário próprio, mas sim mera categoria eficacial autônoma. A investigação histórica do instituto evidencia raízes desde os tempos romanos, tendo reverberado, ainda, nos arranjos típicos do período medieval e nas codificações oitocentistas, revelando sua essência como uma necessidade comercial da vida prática de separar patrimônios em função de um propósito específico, com projeções internas e externas que foram moldadas ao longo do tempo para viabilizar a consecução de empreendimentos de alto risco e promover o desenvolvimento econômico. No Brasil, está presente desde o Código Comercial de 1850, tendo sido adotada por diversas legislações esparsas ao longo dos últimos séculos para as mais diversas funções, servindo como mola propulsora ao desenvolvimento econômico. Como categoria eficacial autônoma que é, goza de flexibilidade para ser aplicada a qualquer tipo societário, modulando os efeitos típicos que lhes são assegurados aos seus ordenamentos societário, patrimonial e da atividade em função do propósito específico almejado. Não por outro motivo, seguindo o que nos parece ser a melhor técnica, o legislador tratou sua previsão normativa expressa no dispositivo de que trata do objeto social, restringindo-o em função de um propósito específico. Aos aplicadores do direito, diante do desenvolvimento histórico do instituto de seus efeitos, cabe saber distingui-los e aplicá-los, de modo a assegurar a efetividade da categoria em nosso ordenamento jurídico e o desempenho de sua função socioeconômica moldada ao longo de tantos anos.

Workforces are made up of individuals with differences in personal characteristics, differences that may be traced back to unique personality types and traits and – sometimes – neurodivergence. Due to the inherent subjectivity of the interpersonal relationships that form the foundation of a work environment, these differences in personal characteristics inevitably lead to tension. In addition, as part of managing a work environment employers frequently take decisions that may be influenced by views and perceptions regarding employees’ personal characteristics. This study starts with a descriptive examination of the meaning of personality and the influence that personality traits and types may have on employment. This is followed by a descriptive examination of neurodivergence, the various forms of neurodivergence, and the impact of these conditions on the work environment. Building on these descriptive and conceptual underpinnings, the legal implications of neurodiversity in the workplace are investigated by identifying which principles of the existing South African employment law framework may be utilised to provide protection and promote respect for neurodiversity and the neurodiverse differences between employees. This encompasses a discussion of the South African employment law rules relating to recruitment and selection of employees, some of the rules applicable to the day-to-day management of employees, and the rules relating to termination of employment that may be (in)directly influenced by considerations of neurodiversity. The focus thereafter shifts to consider the legal principles of employment discrimination law, where it is found that the listed ground of disability and an unlisted arbitrary ground may potentially be used as the applicable grounds of discrimination by employees if they are prejudiced due to their neurodiverse characteristics. In addition, the possibility that the rules on reasonable accommodation may be utilised as primary mechanism to properly regulate neurodiversity in the work environment and protect against prejudicial treatment of employees due to their inherent personal neurodiverse characteristics is also considered. The South African position and potential employment law rules that may apply to the management of neurodiversity in the work environment is compared to the position in the United Kingdom by focusing on the meaning of disability, the right to reasonable adjustments, and the right to request flexible working arrangements. Finally, the conclusions that may be drawn from this study are emphasised and are followed by some recommendations on how (reasonable) accommodation of neurodiversity in the work environment may appropriately be used as primary mechanism to provide employees with sufficient and appropriate protection of differences in neurodiverse characteristics. Even though this study focuses on neurodiversity and neurological differences between employees, the principles and recommendations from this study may be of value in relation to the appropriate management and regulation of all inherent differences between employees.

Alors que la finance traditionnelle peine à se renouveler, les nouveaux applicatifs de finance décentralisée proposent des services financiers basés sur des protocoles innovants, codés et entièrement gérés par les utilisateurs. Les classifications historiques de la finance sont largement inefficaces et des catégories telles que celle des instruments financiers ne permettent pas de construire un encadrement pertinent. Celles-ci doivent être dépassées pour pouvoir encadrer de façon plus inclusive tous les actifs décentralisés. La communication financière est rendue désuète et nécessite une refonte pour prendre en compte les nouvelles motivations des investisseurs et les impératifs environnementaux.

El estudio de los Dispute Boards (DB) y su función social reflejada a través de la prevención y resolución de conflictos empresariales en contratos complejos es el tema central de este estudio. El problema de investigación planteado, en este contexto, es si los Dispute Boards son institutos capaces de desempeñar una función social basada en la prevención y resolución de conflictos en contratos mercantiles complejos. Así, el tema se desarrolla con base en el método dialéctico de la producción científica, apoyado en investigaciones bibliográficas y documentales, además de investigaciones de campo, con encuestas cuantitativas y cualitativas sobre el uso de los DBs. Para ello, el estudio busca contextualizar los conceptos que involucran al mercado, la empresa y la función social como factores que permean contratos comerciales complejos, caracterizados por incertidumbres y riesgos relacionados con la ejecución contractual que deben ser gestionados a través de la implementación de una gobernanza guiada. por principios que implementen la eficiencia de la relación comercial. La referencia a estándares internos en el ámbito de la administración pública también se utiliza para guiar el estudio, que también se abarca en la aplicación del gobierno corporativo, identificando los DBs como vectores para implementar contratos complejos y, en consecuencia, promover y entregar valor sostenible a las empresas. y otras partes interesadas, concluyendo que son mecanismos relevantes para promover la función social, prevenir y resolver conflictos, especialmente en contratos complejos. De la misma manera, se identifica la necesidad de potenciar el instituto DB, atribuyendo personalidad jurídica, además de la contractual, a sus decisiones, con el fin de potenciar su propia función social basada en la seguridad jurídica de los dictámenes deliberantes vinculantes emitidos, presentando, al final, una propuesta de proyecto de ley con el objetivo de iniciar el proceso legislativo para implementar esta realidad jurídica, siguiendo el ejemplo del instituto de arbitraje.

In South Africa, before the Financial Advisory and Intermediaries Services Act (FAIS Act) and other insurance laws came into existence, intermediary services regarding the rendering of insurance products have always been regulated by the law of agency and mandate. This means that the Roman-Dutch principles provided for the standards to which the conduct of intermediaries was to comply with when rendering insurance services. The mandate of intermediaries in terms of the Roman-Dutch Principles also included the fact that they had to act with care, skill and in good faith. When the FAIS Act came into operation, it introduced several detailed rules and minimum standards for insurance intermediaries to comply with, and these minimum standards are not limited to qualifications, experiences and characteristics of honesty and integrity that an intermediary must comply with, but they also stipulated in detail what an intermediary must do when discharging insurance intermediary duties. The FAIS Act is the leading legislation when it comes to the regulation of intermediary services. The FAIS Act, under section 16, provides for a General Code of Conduct for Authorised Financial Services Providers and their Representative (GCC), which contains a set of rules that are applicable to all intermediaries. These rules under the GCC are aimed at ensuring that insurance customers are provided with material facts that will enable them to make a prior informed decision and that their reasonable financial needs concerning insurance products will be carefully considered so that they can be provided with a product that will be suitable to satisfy their needs. Furthermore, in terms of South African laws and practices, intermediaries play an essential role in the creation of legally binding insurance contracts. Insurance businesses are concluded through intermediaries. Considering that many insurance companies are juristic persons, and they can only conduct business by means of human agents, insurance laws make it compulsory for intermediaries to have skills, knowledge, and experience regarding insurance products that they are rendering to insurance customers. It is commonly believed that intermediaries with skills, knowledge and experience, they always act in the best interest of the client, and they ask relevant questions to assist the clients to disclose all material facts, and they always make sure that material facts are clearly communicated/disclosed to the insurer and insured to avoid future conflicts. The legal framework placed a duty on the intermediary to assist the insured to disclose all material facts and to explain all clauses contained in the insurance contract which may lead to the insurer repudiate its liability. Furthermore, an intermediary is at all material times expected to first consider the financial situation of the potential insured before determines a cover that will be best suitable for the insured’s needs. However, despite the best guidelines outlined by applicable insurance laws and regulations, mistakes are still being made by intermediaries, which lead to insurance customers to suffer the consequences of impractical intermediary services, and that has resulted in numerous complaints, legal disputes, debarments, and other regulatory actions. As a result of intermediaries’ continuous misconduct, insurers have been repudiating claims, and it has created a presumption that insurers conduct businesses to enrich themselves instead of protecting the interests of their customers as required by regulating legal framework. Therefore, so many people have lost confidence in the insurance industry due to unlimited court cases and complaints arising from misconduct or omissions of intermediaries, such as their failure to disclose material facts to the parties. Once it is found that material facts were not fully disclosed between the insurer and insured, both parties would have been deprived of their right to make an informed decision before consenting or signing a legally binding contract. Therefore, a need is created for intermediaries to be educated of their legal duties when rendering insurance services and that will help strengthen or restore the confidence of the public towards insurance industry.

The main aim of this thesis is to solve the uncertainties brought about by dismissals for off-duty misconduct. First, it should be acknowledged that the world as we know it has changed and continues to evolve. Dismissals have been significantly impacted by the use of social media outside the workplace. The legalisation of the use of cannabis by an adult person has also brought uncertainties in the way dismissals are handled, especially in cases where an employee consumes cannabis off-duty. These two aspects have significantly influenced dismissals for off-duty misconduct in South Africa, with employees alleging that their rights to privacy, dignity and freedom of expression are infringed. The thesis reveals that regardless of these modern changes, off-duty misconduct dismissal is still governed by the generic provisions of the Labour Relations Act 1995 and its Code of Good Practice: Dismissal. The thesis underscores the lack of clarity regarding the regulation of dismissals for off-duty misconduct in South Africa. Furthermore, despite the judiciary’s establishment of tests (the nexus test and the breakdown of the employment relationship), challenges in adjudicating off-duty misconduct cases persist. This thesis analyses the South African legal framework governing dismissals for off-duty misconduct. The research investigates the evolution of South African dismissal law, tracing its development from the pre-democratic era to the post-democratic era. This investigation scrutinises the shifts in the legal landscape regarding dismissals for off-duty misconduct. The analysis encompasses a range of legal instruments pertinent to South Africa, including legislation, international law, common law, and judicial precedent. The current need for a Code of Good Practice for off-duty misconduct dismissal is highlighted. This rationale is prompted by a comparative examination of other countries where, despite the absence of specific codes addressing off-duty misconduct, a proactive stance has been adopted to safeguard employees’ off-duty rights by enacting relevant legislation. These chosen states have statutes regulating employees’ off-duty conduct and clarifying which conduct is protected and in which circumstances. Consequently, the thesis proposes a Code of Good Practice: Dismissal for Off-duty Misconduct. This Code would assist in the uniformity of application of relevant aspects in determining the fairness of dismissals for off-duty misconduct, thus alleviating labour suits concerning this type of dismissal. The Code would also provide employers with guidelines on how to draft off-duty misconduct policies without infringing employees’ constitutional rights.