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Venolan Naidoo:
Hello and welcome to the Fasken Legal Podcast.

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I'm Venolan Naidoo, I'm a partner at Fasken 
Johannesburg office in the Department of Labour 
and Employment,

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human rights group. A bit of my background.

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I advise clients on various labour and employment 
issues, as well as advising clients on AI 
governance issues.

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Data privacy law in conjunction with Popia.

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I'm pretty ecstatic about the intersection between 
the changing workplace landscape in relation to 
technology,

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the law, compliance, and people. I've had the 
honour of contributing to the University of the 
Western Cape's Centre for Transformative

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Regulation of Work. This was focused on 
non-standard workers that typically work through 
digital platforms.

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The project, which has guided the National 
Economic Development Council, 
also known as Nedlac,

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on the proposed labour laws amendments on 
non-standard workers.

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I've also been privileged to have been the 
National President of the South African Society 
for Labour Law for two terms,

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which has provided me with further insight on the 
constant development of our labour relations law.

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I've written extensively and presented at events 
on various topics.

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This has covered the workplace and the law as well 
as on the technological impact given the advent of 
AI.

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In this podcast series, I aim to cover and 
navigate for you the evolving new ways of work and 
the future of work,

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and what best to be prepared for and plan ahead 
for.

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Today, I'm covering an overview of what will be 
discussed in upcoming episodes in the evolving 
world of work,

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from various vantage points in conjunction with 
current affairs.

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In this podcast series, I advocate for good 
workplace relations, whether your workplace is 
flourishing or when faced with downsizing and

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having to relook at alternative or other new 
employment approaches for employees,

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this could be based on technological changes and 
the like.

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Whether this may be upskilling or reskilling 
certain segments of the workforce to align with 
such changes or considering other ways of

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workplace adaptability. In the coming months, 
I'll be covering various topics or themes,

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and these are AI taking a hold in a multitude of 
sectors and industries, and how to manage many of 
the unforeseen legal risks at the workplace when

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it comes to AI, as well as other disruptions, 
including other technological impacts on the 
workplace.

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I'll also be looking at the evolving work 
arrangements, taking into account both workplace 
efficiency as well as employee wellbeing.

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We will also be looking at the globalized world of 
work, employment, mobility and the approach on 
regulating employment relationships that go beyond

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borders in other countries. The ever-changing 
outlook on mental health and the workplace.

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We will also look at non-standard workers, 
also known as gig workers, 
in South Africa,

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especially in light of the recent Uber and other 
ride hailing strikes taking place,

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but also considering non-standard workers in 
certain instances as an alternative work model to 
possibly gain special skills and other talent.

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This would create more opportunity in this 
relatively new segment of workers in particular 
industries.

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The future of employment and other possible new 
forms of work.

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What would it look like in the coming years, 
especially from a South African context?

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As mentioned earlier, we will consider a new look 
at skills development in which employers would 
need to possibly invest in their workforce

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training to best equip their employees for the 
skills needed in the future that would ultimately 
form part of that workplace in a new landscape.

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And lastly, managing the ever-evolving workplace.

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In times of technological change, 
whether through automation or economic uncertainty 
in certain industries,

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including the recent tariffs placed by the US and 
what to plan ahead for.

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We are living in a world of constant change, 
and having such insight in navigating through this 
change would indeed be critical for employers and

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organizations. The ultimate aim of this legal 
podcast series is to keep abreast of these 
changes,

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and to provide legal and industry insight in what 
to best plan ahead for in a changing workplace 
environment.

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This undoubtedly requires adaptability in 
fostering a work environment that is both 
productive as a net output for the workplace,

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as well as being satisfying for employee wellbeing 
than for part of it.

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These are some of the topics in the world of work 
that we will be covering in the coming episodes.

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What's happening now and how we can help you?

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These will indeed be discussed in the coming 
episodes.

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I'm Venolan Naidoo. Of course, 
feel free to reach out to me and I look forward to 
hosting the series in meeting you to help you your

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business in dealing with the changing world of 
work.