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Engineering News reports that the Consolidated Employers’ Organisation (CEO) has secured a “landmark” victory for its members after lengthy discussions with other stakeholders at the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC).
A new MEIBC main agreement has been agreed upon which recognises the fact that small, medium-sized and microenterprises (SMMEs) in the metals and engineering industry had historically been left to struggle because of no small-employer dispensations in negotiations, which resulted in largely unaffordable settlements for small and growing businesses. The new MEIBC main agreement allows SMMEs to structure in their wages in a multi-phased manner, gradually. CEO national collective bargaining coordinator Johann Preiss pointed out that those employer members who still could not afford the new small-employer dispensation or the phase-in dispensation were protected in the new main agreement through a new exemptions policy negotiated by CEO. Such SMME members will, however, need to submit their exemption applications on dates specified in the agreement. The agreement with the trade unions and other stakeholders enables CEO members within the metal and engineering industry to fix their employees’ wages at flat rates of 60% of the 2019/20 industry wage rates without having to implement any increases until 30 June 2024. Likewise, the agreement was not backdated from 1 July 2021, as was the case with other parties.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News
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