New era dawns for the CCMA as it polishes its outlook-Parliament hears
The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) enters a new phase in the labour market on April 1 that is said to radically improve its efficacy with moves that will transform its vision, mission and values, the portfolio committee on labour heard on Wednesday.
Nerine Kahn, Director of the CCMA, was briefing the committee on the organisation’s Senzumehluku- making a difference 2015/16 to 2019/20 strategy and Annual performance Plan for 2015 to 2016.
“As our current strategy, Siya Phambili come to an end this year, we have consulted our stakeholders for input and the new strategy SENZ’UMEHLUKO (Making a difference) has been developed. This brings in new vision, mission and values that are in line with the current labour market”, she said.
The CCMA’s two goals are to enhance and extend service delivery to transform workplace relations as well as to advance development and strive for organisational effectiveness.
She said preparations are at an advanced stage in making sure that the organisation is ready to affect the new strategy. This includes training of commissioners and public engagement activities such as roadshows and campaigns.
As part of the roll-out strategy to reach the public, a broad-based multi-platformed CCMA national communication campaign will start on April 1. Kahn said this is part of her organisation’s efforts to make an impact in the labour relations environment on South Africa.
She said CCMA has put in place innovative methods to workplace conflict and industrial action.
Kahn was accompanied by senior commissioners and staffers who assisted her in the presentation. The Department of Labour was represented by Phelel Thengeni, Deputy Director General for Corporate Services on behalf of Thobile Lamati who is abroad.
“In the last financial year, the CCMA dealt with 170 673 cases and conducted 43 033 arbitrations with only 45 awards sent to parties late. We intervened in 236 incidents of public interest industrial action and resolved 85.3 per cent”, Kahn said.
For the 2015/16 the CCMA said it needs about R750m for its operations.
Enquiries:
Mokgadi Pela
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 082 808 2168
