You clock out. Mind spinning. Something felt… off.
Maybe it was that shift change with no notice. Or the weird way your manager said, “Be grateful you even have a job.”
Whatever it is. Your gut’s not lying.
And good news? You’re not on your own.
There are people. Real ones. Behind desks, on phones, at small community offices. People who listen. People who act. Some are loud. Others quiet. But all of them? On your side.
Let’s talk hotlines. And labour support organisations. The kind you can actually call. Ones that won’t ghost you or send you in circles. Most of them? Free.
CCMA – Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration
The heavyweight. If your boss fires you without warning, starts deducting your pay, or just treats you unfairly… this is where you go.
They don’t need your lawyer. Just the facts. And they listen. They mediate. Sometimes? They even help fix it.
Contact number: 0861 16 16 16
Website: www.ccma.org.za
Email: info@ccma.org.za
Here’s the thing—don’t wait too long. If you’ve been unfairly dismissed, you’ve got 30 days to act. Not 40. Not “whenever”. Thirty.
Department of Employment and Labour
Big name. Big role. They watch over wages, contracts, workplace safety. They also handle UIF claims. And complaints.
Not always the fastest, no lie. But they do the work.
Contact number : 0860 101 018
Website: www.labour.gov.za
They’ve got inspectors. You report an issue, they can check it out. Not just talk. Action.
Legal Aid South Africa
Lawyers are expensive. We know.
This crew? They don’t charge if you qualify. They offer legal advice. They explain your rights. Sometimes, they’ll even stand by you in court.
Contact number: 0800 110 110
SMS “LEGAL” to 12233
Website: www.legal-aid.co.za
Story time—Thabo, a petrol attendant in Mpumalanga, got fired after missing one shift. No hearing. No letter. Nothing. He called Legal Aid. He ended up getting compensation.
Doesn’t always end that way. But sometimes it does.
Casual Workers Advice Office (CWAO)
They focus on the forgotten. The cleaners. The shelf-packers. Security guards. People no one takes seriously.
But CWAO does. They give advice. Support. Sometimes even help you organise with other workers.
Contact number : 011 614 0082
WhatsApp number: 061 418 5562
Website: www.cwao.org.za
Based in Germiston. But they help across the country. They get it. They really do.
Workers World Media Productions (WWMP)
They don’t just support. They educate. Podcasts. Booklets. Radio shows. All about workers and their rights.
Knowledge is power, right? That’s their whole thing.
Website: www.wwmp.org.za
Email: info@wwmp.org.za
Listen while cooking. Or on the taxi. Learn what your boss hopes you’ll never know.
SAFTU – South African Federation of Trade Unions
Loud. Proud. And not afraid to call out injustice. Even if it’s political. Even if it shakes things up.
Not just a union. A movement.
Contact number : 011 336 2511
Website: www.saftu.org.za
Email: info@saftu.org.za
Even if you’re not a member, hit them up. They won’t ignore you.
COSATU – Congress of South African Trade Unions
Been around a long time. Still strong. Still backing workers in education, mining, healthcare, transport—you name it.
If you’re part of a union under COSATU, you’re not alone.
Contact number: 011 339 4911
Website: www.cosatu.org.za
They’ve got reps. Lawyers. Networks. Sometimes, just that backing is enough to make an employer think twice.
NEDLAC – National Economic Development and Labour Council
This one’s more behind-the-scenes. They help shape policies. Laws. Big stuff that affects every worker.
You won’t call them for a missing payslip. But their work? Still touches your pay. Your safety. Your benefits.
Website: www.nedlac.org.za
Women on Farms Project (WFP)
For the women who work the soil. Who harvest. Who feed us. And often go ignored.
They focus on farmwomen’s rights. From housing to safety to fair wages.
Contact number: 021 887 2960
Website: www.wofp.org.za
They fight hard. For dignity. For justice. For the women left in the dust.
SADTU – South African Democratic Teachers Union
Teachers have rights too. SADTU knows the system inside out. They fight for better conditions, salaries, job security.
If you’re an educator and feeling pressure? This is your support system.
Contact number: 011 971 2000
Website: www.sadtu.org.za
Solidarity
Some call them conservative. Others say efficient. But one thing’s sure—Solidarity gets things done.
Especially if you’ve got a legal fight ahead. They’ve got resources. And legal muscle.
Contact number: 0861 25 24 23
Website: www.solidariteit.co.za
They take care of their own. That’s their motto.
Black Sash
Known for fighting poverty and inequality. Not your usual labour body. But if you’ve got issues with UIF, grants, SASSA, or social rights? They’re the ones.
They’ve helped grandmothers. Young mothers. Laid-off workers.
Email: help@blacksash.org.za
Website: www.blacksash.org.za
People’s Health Movement
Sometimes, your job makes you sick. Literally. Dust. Chemicals. Noise. Stress.
These guys fight for workplace health. Especially in mining, farming, factories.
Website: www.phm-sa.org
They speak up when you can’t breathe. When no one’s listening.
Outsourced Workers Network (OWN)
If you’re a contract worker, temp staff, or part of an outsourced crew—you know the struggle. OWN understands that world.
They support, organise, and push for change.
Usually works closely with CWAO and WWMP.
Ask them for advice. They’ll point you in the right direction.
Not Based in South Africa?
You’ve still got options.
Start with the International Labour Organization (ILO) – they’ve got great info on workers’ rights across the globe.
Website: www.ilo.org
Also try your country’s labour department. Most countries have one. And local trade unions. They may be smaller. But they’re there.
Final Thoughts – Save This Before You Need It
Most people don’t reach out for help until things get really bad. Like, “can’t sleep, can’t eat, don’t know who to trust” bad.
Don’t wait that long.
There are hotlines. Advice offices. Community groups. All over. Run by real people. Some volunteers. Some paid. But they care.
This list? It’s not just phone numbers. It’s lifelines.
So screenshot it. Print it. Send it to your cousin, your sister, your friend who’s scared to talk.
You never know.
It might just save someone’s job. Or sanity.
