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

Payment for Public Holidays

6 May 2019

The months of April and May 2019 have several public holidays in recognition of noteworthy events in South Africa’s history – as well as a day set aside for the country’s 6th democratic elections. In light of this, it is important to understand what payment employees are entitled to for these days, should they work or not.
 
The Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997 (BCEA) and the Main Agreement both contain sections pertaining to work and payment of employees for public holidays. The BCEA sets out general provisions which overlap with several sections of the Main Agreement. However, the Main Agreement contains additional entitlements in certain circumstances.
 
A. Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997 (non-scheduled staff including office/admin/salary staff )
 
Section 18(1) of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act provides as follows:
 
“An employer may not require an employee to work on a public holiday except in accordance with an agreement.”

Presentations from BEE123 and Tremin

26 April 2019

We had an informative presentation from Saul at BEE123 on their B-BBEE Management Software System at our members meeting last week at Reading Country Club.

The BEE123 B-BBEE Management Software System provides powerful and cost effective software and services to track, plan, manage and implement your B-BBEE, please take a look at the brochure below for more information:

BEE123 Brochure

Following on from this, BEE123 have invited SAEFA members to a complimentary YES Workshop on 7 May 2019. If you are interested in attending kindly contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Please remember that SAEFA members have been offered a 10% discount on future services procured from BEE123.

Wage Negotiation Update No 28

10 April 2019

Parties to the MEIBC met today following the MEIBC Management Committee (Manco) meeting of Tuesday, 26 March where it was resolved that Main Agreement negotiations would continue.  The meeting was facilitated by Commissioner Mapelo Tsatsimpe from the CCMA, who opened by stating that she had been briefed by the MEIBC.  SAEFA nevertheless suggested that the parties be given an opportunity to caucus with her separately, so as to ensure that she has a proper understanding of the history and events that have led to the current situation plaguing the MEIBC and the industry.

We then broke for caucus and explained our position to the Commissioner, who responded by informing us that she now realised that she had not been told the background facts which had led to the current impasse. 

Main Agreement Negotiations set to continue on 10 April 2019

29 March 2019

We had previously updated members that the Labour Court had found that the attempt to extend the Admin Agreement was unlawful and had been set aside.  We further informed members that SEIFSA and the trade unions had attempted to extend the Main Agreement in the same way.  The Court’s reasoning is clear and unequivocal, and this resulted in the trade unions finally accepting that they had to return to the negotiating table – something which we had been telling them to do since August 2017.  Unfortunately, the trade unions responded by rejecting SAEFA’s proposals for a new entrant wage rate and for increases to be given on minimums (amongst other proposals) and so SAEFA declared a dispute against the trade unions.

In terms of the MEIBC Constitution, the dispute necessitated a convening of a Special Management Committee (Manco) meeting within 14 days.  The Manco met on Tuesday, 26 March in order to decide how the dispute must be resolved, by choosing one of four options: