Employers are advised to prepare for the planned national march on 30 June 2026, which may result in localised disruptions, transport delays and workplace absenteeism. This management brief outlines the labour law implications of participation in the unprotected protest action, provides guidance on managing unauthorised absences, and offers practical recommendations to help employers safeguard business…
MEIBC Confirms Wage Increases Effective 1 July 2026
The Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC) has confirmed the wage increases applicable from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 under the current Main Agreement. The increases, ranging between 5% and 6%, apply to participating employer associations and trade unions within the metals and engineering industries. Updated minimum wage rates have been published…
Continuation of Pension and Provident Fund Levy Payments at Current Rates
The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) has confirmed that while the Metal Industries Pension and Provident Fund Collective Agreements are set to lapse on 30 April 2026, an application has been submitted to extend these agreements for a further 12 months. Pending formal gazetting by the Department of Employment and Labour,…
New Earnings Threshold Update – Effective 1 May 2026
The Minister of Employment and Labour has published a revised earnings threshold in terms of Section 6(3) of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA). Effective from 1 May 2026, the threshold is set at R269,600.90 per annum. This threshold applies primarily to office-based, administrative, managerial, and professional employees within the metal and engineering sector.…
State of the Metals and Engineering Sector 2026
The Industrial Policy Era: A New Global Norm and a Domestic Inflection Point The State of the Metals and Engineering Sector 2026 report provides a comprehensive assessment of the sector’s performance, structural realities, and outlook within a rapidly shifting global and domestic economic environment. Constituting approximately 25.5% of South Africa’s manufacturing sector, the metals and…
National Minimum Wage Increase 2026 – What Employers Need to Know
National Minimum Wage Amendment – Effective 1 March 2026 The Minister of Employment and Labour has officially amended the National Minimum Wage in terms of the National Minimum Wage Act (No. 9 of 2018), as published in Government Gazette No. 54075 dated 3 February 2026 54075 3-2-2026 EmployLabour Sep…. From 1 March 2026, the national…
TESD Complimentary Webinar | CAPES Provident Fund & COIDA Explained
Beyond Compliance: Protecting Employees While Strengthening Your Business In this exclusive webinar hosted by TESD, leading industry experts provide clarity on statutory employee protection and retirement funding solutions tailored to the Temporary Employment Services sector. The session combines practical insight from Rand Mutual Assurance and Ensimini Financial Services, with a focused spotlight on the CAPES…
SEIFSA Climate Readiness Programme 2026
SEIFSA invites manufacturing companies in the metals, engineering, and related sectors to express interest in participating in the fully funded 2026 Climate Readiness Programme. Delivered in partnership with Danish Industry (DI), the programme is designed to support South African manufacturers in understanding their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions profile, building internal capability, and preparing for emerging…
Draft Amendments to the B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice – Public Comment Invited
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has published a series of draft amendments to the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Codes of Good Practice for public comment, as gazetted under Government Gazette No. 54032 dated 29 January 2026. These proposed amendments are issued in terms of section 9(5) of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment…
Labour Brief 483: Dismissal of a Foreign National Without a Work Visa Ruled Unlawful
This Labour Brief examines a significant High Court ruling confirming that the dismissal of a foreign national without a valid work visa may still be unlawful if proper termination procedures are not followed. The case involved a foreign national employed on successive fixed-term contracts whose employment was terminated with immediate effect due to the absence…