Business Report writes that labour rights groups have lauded the Labour Court’s judgement which will see many non-unionised workers make their own choice of representation at the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).  

The Casual Workers Advice Office (CWAO) took the CCMA to the Labour Court on Tuesday to challenge the statutory body’s rules on representation.  The CCMA’s rule book stated that only an office bearer, member of a registered trade union or a legal representative may represent workers at a hearing.  The CCMA argued that its new dispute rule 35(1) provided discretion to allow other parties to represent workers.  However, this discretion has never been exercised despite it coming into effect 18 months ago.  The Labour Court gave the CCMA ten days to issue a practice notice to all its commissioners outlining how the right should be exercised.

• Read this report by Zintle Mahlati in full at Business Report

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