On 16 January 2019, the Portfolio Committee on Labour unanimously agreed to initiate the process of a Committee Bill. The committee resolved to develop a draft memorandum, as required by National Assembly Rule 273(1), and draft a Bill, if permission was granted by the National Assembly. The committee advertised for public comments in the national daily and weekly newspapers, on Parliament's website, on social media platforms, as well as in the Government Gazette. The closing date for written submissions was Friday, 15 March 2019. The committee received five submissions from the following stakeholders: Mr Elcort Matlala, in his own capacity, the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union, Black First Land First, the Congress of South African Trade Unions,