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

Minister Nxesi and the EEA

11 October 2019

The Minister of Employment and Labour, Mr Thulas Nxesi, has recently expressed grave concerns about the rate of transformation in South African workplaces.  This concern has motivated him to fast track the amendment of the Employment Equity Act, saying that the amendment bill was submitted for parliamentary consideration during the last administration and that the amendments are at an advanced stage. These amendments signal a more aggressive approach to transformation which focus on enforcement measures.

It is essential for employers to familiarise themselves with the amendments to the Employment Equity Act, as failure to comply upon their enactment may result in gruelling labour inspector audits or hefty fines imposed by the Labour Court.

Should you require any assistance in ensuring your compliance with the Employment Equity Act, and the looming amendments, please contact us or book your seat on the EEA workshop that we are running on 30 October 2019.

Workshop Flyer - 30 October 2019

 

Retrenchment Workshop - 9 October 2019

Retrenching?  Make sure you know what you are doing.

Business conditions in the sector continue to be abysmal for many companies and metal and engineering industry is now under more pressure than ever before.  Various economists are of the view that the effects of the global credit crisis have not even yet been fully felt.  This has, unfortunately, put many companies in a position where they now have to contemplate implementing retrenchments.  The retrenchment process is regulated under s189 of the Labour Relations Act and it is imperative that employers who are in this desperate position are au fait with legal requirements. These legal requirements can often prove daunting to employers, particularly those who have never implemented short-time, lay-offs or retrenchments before or who have not had to for some time.

SAEFA, in association with Gordon Angus and Associates is running a comprehensive training workshop dealing with the intricacies and legalities of implementing retrenchments on Wednesday, 9 October 2019.

COID Act: Draft Regulations relating to the proposed new Rates Assessment Model

18 September 2019

Below please find a draft Government notice relating to the above which has been published for comment. You will note that the number of new proposed classes has been significantly reduced with new assessment rates for each. Most SAEFA companies will fall under Paragraph 3.12 of the schedule: Restructured Cluster L. 

Companies wishing to comment are requested to email these to me by no later than Monday 23 September 2019.

Draft Regulation on Employers Assesment Model

Retrenching? Make sure you know what you're doing

27 August 2019

Business conditions in the sector continue to be abysmal for many companies.  Various economists are of the view that the effects of the global credit crisis have not even yet been fully felt.  This has, unfortunately, put many companies in a position where they now have to contemplate implementing retrenchments.  The retrenchment process is regulated under s189 of the Labour Relations Act and it is imperative that employers who are in this desperate position are au fait with legal requirements.

SAEFA is running a comprehensive training workshop dealing with the intricacies and legalities of implementing retrenchments on 18 September 2019.  For more information or to make a booking, please see the attached.

Retrenchment Workshop Flyer