An employee who has not less than three years unbroken service with an employer, shall receive a service award of not less than R2 per week, in addition to the wage payable to an employee in terms of subclause 6.1, irrespective of whether such an employee is, in respect of his ordinary hours of work, in receipt of a wage higher than that specified for an employee of his class.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this part of the Agreement, the periods referred to in subclause 8.1 (5), except in the case of confinement or illness, shall, for the purposes of this subclause, be deemed to be unbroken service: Provided that such an employee immediately after such periods of absence, returns to his place of employment: Provided further that, where an employee is absent from employment for maternity reasons or illness, such absence shall be regarded as unbroken service for the purpose of this subclause on condition that such an employee returns to the place of employment within 12 calendar months without having been employed elsewhere. An employer may require such an employee to furnish satisfactory proof of absence from work owing to illness or for maternity reasons prior to the payment of the service award.