Probation is three months at most, and one day for casual or seasonal work

Contracts. Section 12(5)

Review outstanding

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In plain words

A contract may provide for a probationary period of no more than three months, or one day in the case of casual or seasonal work. During probation notice of termination is two weeks, or one week for casual and seasonal work.

Section 12(5) sets both the maximum length and the shortened notice that applies during it. A probation longer than three months has no basis in the Act, and an employer cannot extend one indefinitely to avoid the protections that follow it. The subsection was amended by section 6 of Act 7 of 2005.

Applies to: Employees on probation

Chishona

Nguva yekuedzwa pabasa haifaniri kupfuura mwedzi mitatu, kana zuva rimwe chete pabasa renguva pfupi. Munguva iyi zivisa rekugumisa ibasa ivhiki mbiri.

IsiNdebele

Isikhathi sokulingwa emsebenzini kasidluli inyanga ezintathu, loba usuku olulodwa emsebenzini wesikhathi esifitshane. Ngalesosikhathi isaziso sokuqeda singamaviki amabili.

Where this comes from and when it applies

Field	Value
Instrument	Labour Act [Chapter 28:01]
Kind	Principal Act
Chapter	28:01
Provision	Section 12(5)
In force from	2005-12-31
In force to	Still in force
Recorded on this platform	2026-08-23
Supersedes	—
Official source	https://www.veritaszim.net/sites/veritas_d/files/Labour%20Act%20Cap%2028.01.pdf
Review status	Outstanding

As at 20 Oct 2026, 08:19. Method version 2026.07.1.