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

The latest SAEFA Workshop: Workplace Discipline - Getting It Right, From Counselling to Dismissals

Avoid the mistakes which could potentially cost your business hundreds of thousands of Rands.

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. 

All too often, employers are ill prepared when taking disciplinary action against troublesome employees, particularly when it comes to conducting disciplinary enquiries.  Even if you have experienced expert consultants available to chair such enquiries, things will not go your way unless you prepare thoroughly and present a well prepared, structured case to maximize your chances of success.

MCC Conference Programme

 

The second South African Metal Casting Conference and WFO Technical Forum will be taking place from 14 March to 17 March at Emperors Palace, 64 Jones Road, Kempton Park, Johannesburg.

The Metal Casting Conference(MCC) is hosted by the South African Institute of Foundrymen (SAIF), the Metal Casting Technology Station (UJ MCTS) and the National Foundry Technology Network. The theme of the conference is World Cast in Africa – Innovate for Sustainability. The MCC will be held concurrently with the World Foundry Organization (WFO) Technical Forum and the 7th BRICS Foundry Forum.

Media Statement: Unemployment Insurance Amendment Act

Kindly be advised that the Unemployment Insurance Amendment Bill had been passed in the NCOP on 22 November 2016.

In summary, the Bill has the following aspects:

·  Increase UIF benefits from 238 to 365 days.

·  Increase maternity leave benefits to 66%, which will no longer be deducted from the mother’s unemployment insurance benefit.

Feedback: National Minimum Wage and Labour Relations Stability

At the Committee of Principals Meeting held on 20 November 2016, a number of key developments took place. High level feedback is provided below.

Labour Relations Stability

There is significant progress being made on securing of a secret ballot and advisory arbitration. Together with the Code of Good Practice on Collective Bargaining, Industrial Action and Picketing, the Accord of commitments by leadership of constituencies, and other legislative provisions targeted at addressing prolonged and violent strike action these create a strong package of interventions to secure labour relations stability. The texts have gone for final revisions, and will be resubmitted for final approval by the Committee of Principals.