Welcome

South African Engineers’ and Founders’ Association

The SA Engineers and Founders Association (SAEFA) represents the interests of hundreds of member companies in the metal and engineering industry. These companies range in size from very small employers to large multinational organisations. SAEFA not only offers a wide range of direct services to member companies but also represents the interests of our members at both industry and national levels. 

SAEFA’s direct services to member companies, available at a reduced fee to these companies compared to what a non-member company would pay in the market, include assistance on all matters affecting the relationship between themselves and their employees/trade unions – for example:

  • Dispute resolution, conciliation, mediation and arbitration services 
  • Advice, assistance, consultancy and training on labour legislation, employment conditions and all other Industrial Relations matters
  • Assistance is also provided with health and safety matters, broad-based black economic empowerment, contract price adjustments and skills development through our affiliate organisations

For full information on these services contact SAEFA’s Executive Director, Gordon Angus, at gordon@saefa.co.za. 

SAEFA also represents the interests of our member companies in all industry negotiations with the industry’s trade unions, not only on wages and other conditions of employment but also on the industry’s benefit funds which provide benefits to employees such as pensions, permanent disability and sick pay benefits. SAEFA has its own seats at the MEIBC, participating directly in all activities there.

Being a member of SAEFA allows you to have a direct say in what happens in your industry.

 

News

COVID19 Export Impact survey

17 April 2020

The dtic’s COVID-19 Export Impact survey (attached) aims to identify emerging challenges faced by exporters as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, policy responses to the pandemic, or the subsequent economic slowdown.  All responses to the questionnaire will be kept anonymous, and reporting will only be provided on the summary results of all respondents.

COVID-19 Export Impact Survey

To submit this questionnaire, please email the completed form to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

AMENDMENTS TO LOCKDOWN REGULATIONS ANNOUNCED

17 April 2020

Government ministers yesterday presented amendments to the current lockdown restrictions. Please see below a summary of the amendments:

  • Restaurants and takeaway establishments are to remain closed, and supermarkets open to sell essential goods.
  • The new rules emphasise that the transport of alcohol is not allowed except where required for industries producing certain essential products such as hand sanitisers, disinfectants, soap etc.
  • Essential goods will now include the hardware, components and supplies needed by trades people for emergency repairs at homes or for any project related to the provision of water, electricity or other essential service.
  • Trades necessary for emergency automobile repairs has been declared essential and similarly the components required for automobile repairs to vehicles is now an essential good. 
  • In the same vein, trades necessary to render emergency repair work including locksmiths, glaziers, roof repairers, plumbers, electricians have been declared essential services.

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT NEWSFLASH 2

15 April 2020

REVISED NEW SETA GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES

On 7 April, SAEFA distributed a document to members informing them of new guidelines and procedures applicable to the SETAs in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have now been informed that these have been rescinded and replaced with the below:

SETA COVID-19 Finalised Guidelines and Procedures

The attention of members is drawn in particular to the following:

• The extension of the date for mandatory grant submissions from 30 April to 31 May remains in place.

• 43.4 of the earlier document (circulated on 7 April) provided that companies were required to continue to pay learner stipends at full value during this time. This provision has not been included in the new guidelines and Paragraph 6 – Skills Development Implementation - gives the new requirements relating to the payment of learners.

Lockdown and contributions to the industry funds

15 April 2020

Please note the following rules that apply with regards to contributions to the Engineering Industries Pension Fund and/or Metal Industries Provident Funds:

  • If employees are being paid in full during the lockdown, full contributions to the industry funds must be made
  • If employees are receiving partial payment during the lockdown, then contributions on the reduced rate must be made.  This includes a situation where an employee is being paid out by the UIF and his/her employer is “topping up” his/her wages.  Here, contributions must be made on the reduced amount that the employer is paying to top up the employee’s wages.
  • If the period is being treated as unpaid and no contributions are therefore being made, the employee is still covered for the death benefits of the respective funds for a period of 2 months.

For further details, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..