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

CIRCULAR: Dispute Resolution Levy Increase - 2019

13 August 2019

As you are aware, SAEFA has been mandated to pursue private dispute resolution mechanisms for our members.  To this end, we have concluded arrangements with private, CCMA accredited dispute resolution providers who are prepared to offer a superior, private dispute resolution service at no additional cost.  However, before this service can be implemented, an exemption first needs to be sought and obtained from the MEIBC, a process which is currently underway.  Until such time as we are ready to introduce the private service for members, please be aware of the 4.7% increase in the Dispute Resolution Levy as from 1 August 2019

Please refer to the circular from the MEIBC below:

Circular

Effective Workplace Discipline Workshop - 21 August 2019

8 August 2019

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. 

SAEFA is running a one-day workshop to guide employers through the discipline provisions of the Labour Relations Act:

Date and Venue 

Wednesday, 21 August 2019, Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre, Viewpoint Street, Boksburg.  

Why Not to Have a Main Agreement

20 June 2019

SEIFSA have recently been advertising a training session about their wage agreement with the unions. In it they trumpet the phrase: “If not the Main Agreement - then what else?”.

They are charging over R3,000 for the session for non-members, bearing in mind that if one is not a SEIFSA member then their agreement doesn’t apply to you anyway. Further, the SEIFSA-NUMSA wage agreement reached in mid-2017 has not been extended to the rest of the industry, so it cannot be called a “Main Agreement” at all.  This is despite advertising on their website and via email circulars that the terms and conditions of employment contained in their Main Agreement Handbook are applicable to all employers and employees in the industry.

The SA Engineers and Founders Association (SAEFA) will be hosting sessions on why NOT to be a part of the SEIFSA “Main Agreement”. These sessions will be free of charge and open to anyone in the industry, including SEIFSA members. Sessions will be held on 28 June and 4 July 2019 at the Reading Country Club, 40 Fore Street, Alberton.

Urgent Industry News - Wages July 2019

Booking Form

 

EEA Workshop - 12 June 2019

27 May 2019

Don’t Risk Harsh Penalties for Non-Compliance with the Employment Equity Act

The 17th Commission for Employment Equity Report has led to the Department of Labour adopting a harsher stance on non-compliance with the Employment Equity Act for companies who do not meet the obligations of the Act. Recent proposed amendments to the Act envisage even more draconian sanctions for non-compliance.

The South African Engineers and Founders Association, in partnership with Gordon Angus and Associates, is presenting a one-day workshop on how to deal with your obligations under the Employment Equity Act.