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 for employees of SAEFA members

18 September 2017

There is a huge amount of misinformation doing the rounds in the industry at present.  It is essential that employees fully understand the implications of the introduction of a new entrant wage structure.  We have prepared a circular which helps explain the concept to employees.  Please place the circular up on your company notice boards and explain its contents to your scheduled employees.

We thank you for your continued support.

Please click on the following link to view the circular: Notice to member company employees

Wage Negotiation Advisory No. 23 - Wage Increase Recommendation

14 September 2017

On 7 September 2017, we requested members to comment on a proposed recommendation that the SA Engineers and Founders Executive Committee and Negotiating Team were looking to make.  This follows calls from our members for guidance from the Association in terms of implementing an interim increase, until such time as we are able to settle, in full, with the industry trade unions.

I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the members that did submit their views, comments and suggestions.  I believe that I have spoken either telephonically or via email to all of you.  Once again, we would like to remind employers that the SA Engineers and Founders Association and its members are not parties or signatories to any settlement agreement.

We recommend an interim increase of what you believe is fair for your scheduled staff, which is not legally obligatory, of up to a maximum of 7% on actuals for the next year, while we are still negotiating.  This increase must be set-off against any subsequent, legally binding settlement agreement.  There is no obligation to backdate any wage increases given.  A template memo is available on request.

Wage Negotiation Advisory No. 22

7 September 2017

Following our update sent out to members dated 5 September 2017, a meeting of the SA Engineers and Founders Negotiating Team and Executive Committee was held this morning.  It was agreed and decided that a recommendation be made to our members regarding the current state of play in the industry. 

Members are to please note the following:

This recommendation has been proposed and seconded by the meeting.  Any member who opposes this recommendation should contact Gordon by close of business, Monday, 11 September 2017.  Any member who has not responded by this time and date will be deemed to be in support.

The SA Engineers and Founders Association and its members are not parties or signatories to any settlement agreement. We are very well aware that the current settlement agreement being touted as an “industry agreement” is only as appealing (on the face of it) as it is, as a result of the presence of SAEFA as an independent party in the negotiations.  This settlement agreement cannot be legally extended to non-parties.  We understand that your employees deserve an increase.

Wage Negotiation Advisory No. 21

5 September 2017

The SA Engineers and Founders Association is acutely aware of the pressure building within companies with regard to wage increases.  As previously communicated, we have met with the other employer organisations who are not signatories to any settlement agreement and we have also met with the trade union Solidarity, who want time to consider our proposal of a new entrant wage structure.

No other trade union, apart from Solidarity has engaged with us, as SEIFSA and the unions who have engaged with each other, are intent on extending their agreement on the rest of the industry against our will.  However, it is highly improbable that the Minister of Labour will be able to legally extend this agreement to non-parties.

The SA Engineers and Founders Executive Committee and Negotiating Team will be meeting on Thursday 7 September 2017 at 09h00 to agree on the way forward and a recommendation dealing with wage increases will follow from this meeting.