About SEIFSA

The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa (SEIFSA) is a national employer federation representing the metal and engineering industry. For 67 years, SEIFSA has provided active support for its members and lobbied for policies that have improved the business environment in which its members operate.

SEIFSA operates on the following levels:

1. National level

SEIFSA’s management team represents employers, as the recognised voice of the metal and engineering industry, on a number of organisations that are critical to the success of the industry as a whole including:

• Business Unity South Africa (Busa)
• Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration
• Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-Based Industries (CEEMET)
• Customs and VAT Enforcement Caucus
• Electricity Intensive Users Forum
• Eskom Task Group on Electricity
• Eskom, SEIFSA and Structural Forum for the Overseeing of Development in the Eskom Build Programme
• Fund for Research into Industrial Development, Growth and Equity Committee of Nedlac
• Human Resource Development Council
• International Trade Administration Commission
• Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Seta (Merseta)
• Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC)
• Metal Industries Benefit Funds Administrators (Mibfa)
• National Economic, Development and Labour Council (Nedlac)
• National Skills Authority (NSA)
• Technical Sectoral Liaison Committee on Trade Agreements of Nedlac

SEIFSA, through its membership of these bodies, has over the years positively influenced legislation and policy affecting labour relations, skills development as well as economic and trade matters.

2. Industry level

At industry level, SEIFSA negotiates collective agreements covering wages and conditions of employment with the trade unions. The federation also represents employers on the boards of the Engineering Industries Pension Fund, the Metal Industries Provident Fund, the Metal and Engineering Industries Permanent Disability Scheme, the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council Sick Pay Fund, the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council and the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Seta (Merseta).

3. Individual member company level

SEIFSA provides a comprehensive range of services and products of direct benefit to members.  SEIFSA’s range of services and products includes advice, assistance, consultancy (covering labour legislation, dispute resolution, employment conditions, health and safety, broad-based black economic empowerment, contract price adjustment and skills development), publications, training courses, seminars and conferences.

SEIFSA membership

SEIFSA is the umbrella body for 35 independent employer associations representing the following sectors in our industry:

air conditioning	general engineering
bright bar	hand tool
cables	lift engineering
concrete and reinforcers	machine engravers
construction	metal service centres
electrical	non-ferrous metals
electronics and telecommunications	pressure vessels
electroplating	pump manufacturers
fasteners	radio and television
ferro alloys	refrigeration
foundry	sheet metal
galvanisers	steel producers
gate and fence	valve manufacturers

Four of these are regional associations based in Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and East London.

The associations currently have a combined membership of around 2 440 companies employing 193 218 hourly-paid workers, almost 60% of the industry’s workforce. This makes SEIFSA one of the largest and most influential employer federations in South Africa. Member companies range from giant corporations to micro enterprises. More than 40 percent of our member companies employ fewer than 25 employees.

SEIFSA is a non-profit-making body. Its main sources of income derive from annual per capita levies on member companies and a collective bargaining levy on non-member companies in the industry. The balance comes from services rendered and products sold to companies in the industry.

Over the years, SEIFSA has helped to promote a business environment in which its members can successfully run their operations. The past year has been no exception and SEIFSA has demonstrated that it plays a vital role in promoting and protecting the interests of employers in the industry.

Communication to members

Communication is an important aspect of the federation’s relationship with its members. There are four main channels of communication:

• SEIFSA News – 10 issues published annually;
• SEIFSA’s website (www.seifsa.co.za);
• regular electronic mails; and
• the annual roadshow to Johannesburg, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.

SEIFSA Products and Services

Kindly refer to the divisional web pages for details on products and services offered by our four specialist divisions, namely:

• Economic and Commercial
• Health and Safety
• Industrial Relations
• Skills Development

Did you know?

As a SEIFSA member, your R185 per month collective bargaining levy payable to the MEIBC falls away.

For more information and membership registration, please contact Bridget Sims on 011 298 9427 or on email bridget@seifsa.co.za