BRENTWOOD

2024-03-26

Metal and Engineering Industries 2024 negotiations proposals tabled.

The parties to the 2024 industry negotiations have begun to table their demands for this year’s negotiations. 

Trade Unions
MEWUSA:
- 12 % across-the-board increase on the actual wage in all categories or grades;
- Doing away with Grade H, but not downgrading Grade G;
- A 3 year agreement should be on status quo;
- The retrenchment ex gratia payment of between 1 and 3 weeks depending on length if service be increased to 4 weeks.
SAEWA
- 10% across-the-board increase on the actual wage in all categories or grades;
- All outstanding matters of the 2021 / 2024 gazetted main agreement to be addressed and finalised;
- Housing Assistance.
SOLIDARITY
- 9% across-the-board increase on the actual wage in all categories or grades;
- All outstanding matters of the 2021 / 2024 gazetted main agreement to be addressed and finalised.
UASA:
- 10 % across-the-board increase on the actual wage in all categories or grades;
- 43 shifts on a 5-day week to be in increased to 50 shifts for the calculation of leave and leave enhancement pay.

Employers Organisations
SEIFSA
Seifsa’s approach to the 2024 negotiations will be structured around:
- a long-term agreement;
- wages;
- gazettal of the new main agreement and extension of the agreement to non-parties;
- exemptions incorporating special phase-in dispensation.
SAEFA
- Establish a New Entrant wage structure applicable to new employees employed at businesses registered with the MEIBC;
- Increases on minimum wage, and not actual hourly rate as proposed by the unions;
- Three-year agreement;
- A new, revamped and effective exemptions policy.
CEO
- Automatic exemption of SMMEs in relation to rates payable to employees. SMMEs to be automatically exempted without going through the formal exemption application process;
- A proper and clear definition of SMME’s needs to be determined;
- Phase-In Dispensation exemption be extended to Phase 2 where employers pay at least 60% of the 2023/2024 rates by the end of June 2027;
- Three-year agreement.
- Increases on minimum wage, and not actual hourly rate as proposed by the unions.

The current Main Agreement expires on 30 June 2024.