AS A BUSINESS OWNER, YOU’RE THE GO-TO PLACE FOR SO MANY.
BUT WHO’S YOUR GO-TO PLACE?
A safe harbour to anchor your business…
Founded in 1998 the (SA)UEO is a trusted, DEL-registered employers’ organisation with a mandate to provide businesses with representation at business and labour forums – such as the Labour Court, CCMA and bargaining councils, backed by the relevant expert industrial relations (IR), human resources (HR) and labour law expertise.
Over the years, the organisation has however evolved into way more than that – to not only become a safe harbour for its members to anchor at – but also be a go-to place to continuously help you survive the business ebbs and ride the tides. We invite you to join our business family today.
A Song to honour every business leader, owner or enabler!
How it works
BECAUSE IT’S IN YOUR BEST INTEREST
AS A BUSINESS, WE NEVER LOSE SIGHT
OF THIS IMPORTANT TRUTH…
You don’t just build a business, you build people. And then people build your business. For this reason, we take a very different approach to any potentially contentious labour and business issues and disputes.
Instead of going out with guns blazing and add more fuel to the fire, we build solid relationships with all relevant parties on your behalf instead, that are firmly anchored in mutual trust and respect.
This enables us to help you navigate through any labour- and business-related storms fairly seamlessly, in a way that is fair and just to all involved, so you can get your business ship back en route to its destination – as soon as possible.
WHAT IS AN EMPLOYERS’ ORGANISATION?
Simply put, a South African employers’ organisation is legally registered with the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) with a mandate to represent its (business) members at labour-related forums such as the Labour Court, CCMA and bargaining councils.
WHAT DOES THIS ‘REPRESENTATION’ MEAN IN PRACTISE?
On the one hand, this ‘representation’ refers to representing our members at labour-related proceedings, such as conciliation, arbitration and mediation proceedings for dispute resolutions, which could be at the Labour Court, CCMA or private arbitration facilities.
On the other hand, it also involves participation in wage and similar types of negotiations at bargaining councils, to help influence positive incomes that serve all parties involved, as justly and fairly as possible.
WHAT IS A BARGAINING COUNCIL?
Employee bodies such as unions, in a particular industry and geographic area, with the aim to engage in collective bargaining about the likes of wages, conditions of employment, and so on.
Bargaining councils operate in terms of the Labour Relations Act (LRA) of 1995, but many of them were established as industrial councils under the previous Industrial Conciliation Act. To obtain a mandate to operate, a bargaining council must be registered with DEL, and both parties (employers and unions) must prove they are adequately ‘representative,’ as constituted by the main agreement of the bargaining council, which may vary from industry to industry.
WHY IS IT IMPERATIVE FOR BUSINESS TO JOIN AN EMPLOYERS’ ORGANISATION?
Apart from having a strong voice at bargaining council negotiations, there are at least four key reasons why every business in South Africa should be a member of an employers’ organisation.
The Four Key Reasons.
Why every business in South Africa should be a member of an employers’ organisation.
Representation at labour forums
ENHANCED CHANCES OF POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR DISPUTESs
COMPLIANCE WITH LABOUR LAWS
Ongoing compliance with an everchanging
regulatory landscape
Representation at Labour Forums
Firstly, many business leaders are not aware that a lawyer or labour law practitioner is generally not allowed at labour-related proceedings or negotiations at the CCMA or bargaining councils, unless they are official organisers (members) of a DEL-registered employers’ organisation.
Compliance with labour laws
Secondly, members of (SA)UEO constantly receive up-to-date information pertaining to the latest labour legislation that impact their businesses. When one considers the fact that just in 2019, ±74% of referrals to the CCMA were due to non-compliance with our labour laws, this is a factor that cannot be underestimated.
Enhanced chances of positive outcomes for disputes
Thirdly, the majority of negative outcomes at labour forums such as the CCMA, are due to proceedings that were not handled correctly, both procedurally and substantially. To this end, the (SA)UEO has ≥200 registered organisers who are strategically positioned nationwide, to offer our members such expert assistance. These organisers comprise a multidisciplinary range of officials who specialise in industrial relations, labour law, and human resources.
Ongoing compliance with an everchanging regulatory landscape
Finally, as a business owner, you have to constantly steer your business ship through an ever-changing environment, which is chancing even faster than ever, whilst avoiding social, economic, political and legal rocks that could literally sink you in an instant.
The impact of the latest legislation that deals with the national COVID-19 lockdown stipulations and compliance with the subsequent new occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations on business, is a classic example of that.
The (SA)UEO has a dedicated team of researchers and specialists that constantly scan the business environment to identify any new potential issues and collectively design solutions for them.
