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

Attempt to Extend the Settlement Agreement

5 September 2018

Despite objections put forward by the SA Engineers and Founders Association in a MEIBC Manco Meeting last week, the parties to the MEIBC resolved to hold a meeting yesterday, the 4th of September 2018, for the purposes of conducting a vote around the extension of the Administration and Registration Expenses Agreement and the 2017 - 2020 Settlement Agreement between SEIFSA and the trade unions. The meeting was held yesterday morning and the majority of the parties present (many of which, in our view, are not entitled to vote) voted in favour of the gazettal and extension of the agreements.

We continue to hold the view that the decision taken yesterday is unconstitutional and unlawful. We are, therefore, consulting with our legal team with a view to challenging the decision in court, as we believe that the extension of the Settlement Agreement will have a catastrophic effect on employment and cause further severe strain on the engineering industry.

Update following the vote of all parties

SAEFA Effective Workplace Discipline Workshop

13 August 2018

Effective Workplace Discipline: Getting It Right, From Counselling to Dismissals

Avoid the mistakes which could potentially cost your business

Section 185 of the Labour Relations Act gives all employees the right not to be unfairly dismissed.  Yet many employers still make fundamental mistakes when taking corrective action against their employees.  As an employer, there is nothing more frustrating than having to compensate or reinstate an employee who has broken your rules.  The key to successful workplace discipline starts with understanding the principles of progressive discipline and ensuring you know the procedural requirements to ensure fairness. 

Invitation to Join His Excellency President Cyril Ramaposa on a State Visit and FOCAC Summit

8 August 2018

Please see below an invitation extended to us by the Department of Trade and Industry, through Business Unity South Africa.  Any member wishing to join the President Ramaphosa as part of the business delegation on his State visit to China may fill in the required documentation and submit same directly to the dti.

 

The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) would like to invite you and your members to form part of the business delegation that will be joining His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa on his State Visit and during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) scheduled to take place from 01 – 04 September 2018, in Beijing, China.

You are kindly requested to identify and coordinate business members from your organization to be part of the business delegation accompanying the President. Participants are requested to complete the attached registration form to the dti on or before the 15 August 2018.