JOHANNESBURG, 21 October 2021 – The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) welcomes the end of the strike that has affected the metal and engineering sector in the past three weeks, SEIFSA Chief Executive Officer Lucio Trentini said.
SEIFSA on behalf of its affiliated Associations and labour reached a landmark agreement on the issue of awarding increases on a rand and cents amount calculated on scheduled rates, which was the major point of difference in the past few weeks.
“We are immensely pleased that the strike is finally over. It is now incumbent on all stakeholders in the metals and engineering sector to work collectively to rebuild and grow the sector. The sector has a very important role to play in the delivery of the Government’s ambitious economic recovery programme over the next few years, and that can happen only when a strong partnership exists between business and labour,” Mr Trentini said.
The 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2024 Settlement Agreement amends existing terms and conditions of employment of all employees covered by the Main Agreement and is in full and final settlement of wages and conditions of employment for the period of the agreement. Wages during the three year period will be adjusted on average by 5,49% with a general labourer receiving 6% and artisans 5% calculated on rand and cents on the scheduled rates.
We at SEIFSA thank each and every employer representative nominated by their respective Associations who gave unstintingly of their time to assist and play a crucially important role in the process.
We are immensely grateful to the SEIFSA Board, the SEIFSA Council, the Associations and each and every member appointed on the SEIFSA Negotiating Team. The three-year (2021 to 2024) Settlement Agreement is the fruit of their decisive and collective leadership.