Load Shedding And The MEIBC Main Agreement

METAL INDUSTRY ALERT

LOAD SHEDDING and THE MEIBC MAIN AGREEMENT

 
Dear Industry Employer
 
The current electricity shortage and subsequent load shedding dilemma which South-Africa is experiencing, is increasingly creating problems for employers.
 
Apart from lost production time, one of the biggest quandaries for employers is how to deal with their employees during periods of load shedding.
 
Clause 7 of the MEIBC Main Agreement (dealing with the issue of short time) determines the following:
 
“For the purpose of this clause, the notice prescribed in subclause (1)(a) shall not apply in respect of short-time working caused by unforeseen contingencies and/or circumstances beyond the control of the employer, including but not limited to power problems, interruptions and/or failures, machinery breakdown, theft, fire and/or flood: Provided that-  

1. Where the employer elects to send employees home they shall receive not less than four hours’ work or pay in lieu thereof, in respect of such day;

2. Where the employer believes resumption of work can be affected and expressly instructs his employees to present themselves for employment on a particular day, they shall receive not less than four hours’ work or pay in lieu thereof, in respect of such a day; and

3. Where the employer does not implement short-time in response to a planned or foreseen load shedding, and employees report for work and are sent home by the employer, they will be entitled to 8 hours payment in respect of such day.” 

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOU?
 
In order to enable us to address this matter in the appropriate forums, kindly indicate to us whether the above mentioned measures are sufficient and, if not, the nature of the problems you experience and kindly provide us with any possible alternative arrangement which you may have in mind.
 
Kindly direct your responses to angelique@neasa.co.za.

Regards

Jaco Swart
National Collective Bargaining co-ordinator