Extension of main agreement: The way forward.

MEIBC
EXTENSION OF MAIN AGREEMENT
THE WAY FORWARD

Dear Steel Industry employer

As previously communicated, the Minister of Employment and Labour extended the MEIBC Consolidated Main Collective Agreement (the ‘Agreement’) to non-parties, with effect from 17 October 2022.
 
NEASA attempted to prevent this extension by way of an urgent interdict, which application, as well as NEASA’s request for leave to appeal, was dismissed by the Labour Court.
 
NEASA has filed its petition for leave to appeal with the Labour Appeal Court on 12 October 2022.
 
Although NEASA will also be reviewing the decision of the Minister to extend the Agreement, we cannot do so on an urgent basis as the appeal has to be concluded first.
 
Therefore, the review of the Minister’s decision will be done in the normal course, which will take a considerable time to finalise.
 
In the meantime, NEASA will assist employers to apply for exemption from the provisions of this Agreement.
 
NEASA members who need assistance with an exemption application can contact Rona Bekker at  rona@neasa.co.za.

Non-members can contact Monica Pretorius at monica@neasa.co.za.