IOL reported that South Africa’s steel sector organizations, the National Employer Association of South Africa and the South African Engineering and Founders Association have filed a petition at the Constitutional Court for leave to appeal the judgment of the Labor Court last year, which dismissed their contention of an agreement setting standard wages for the industry. The associations want a fresh hearing of the review dismissed by the labor court to interdict the extension of the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council consolidated main agreement, pending the review of the Council’s decision to request the minister to extend the agreement to non-parties. This is as members of both organizations are reeling from the impact of the higher wage rates, the higher load shedding stages contributing to production disruptions and the pending higher electricity tariffs after the National Energy Regulator of South Africa granted Eskom a 18.64% increase from April this year. The petition to the Constitutional Court is based on the grounds that the Labor Court was only required to determine the application for an interim interdict, pending the determination of a review. NEASA Executive Director Mr Gerhard Papenfus said “The MEIBEC proscribed wages are almost double the most expensive industry in South Africa. There is no growth, only a constant decline. The industry is already in a survival battle and the constitutional court is part of the whole thing,” said Neasa executive director Gerhard Papenfus.
IOL reported that South Africa’s steel sector organizations, the National Employer Association of South Africa and the South African Engineering and Founders Association have filed a petition at the Constitutional Court for leave to appeal the judgment of the Labor Court last year, which dismissed their contention of an agreement setting standard wages for the industry. The associations want a fresh hearing of the review dismissed by the labor court to interdict the extension of the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council consolidated main agreement, pending the review of the Council’s decision to request the minister to extend the agreement to non-parties. This is as members of both organizations are reeling from the impact of the higher wage rates, the higher load shedding stages contributing to production disruptions and the pending higher electricity tariffs after the National Energy Regulator of South Africa granted Eskom a 18.64% increase from April this year. The petition to the Constitutional Court is based on the grounds that the Labor Court was only required to determine the application for an interim interdict, pending the determination of a review. NEASA Executive Director Mr Gerhard Papenfus said “The MEIBEC proscribed wages are almost double the most expensive industry in South Africa. There is no growth, only a constant decline. The industry is already in a survival battle and the constitutional court is part of the whole thing,” said Neasa executive director Gerhard Papenfus.
