Bargaining Council: Critical Info on New Minimum Wage & Establishment Council Registration
NEW NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE WITH EFFECT FROM 1 MARCH 2024
The Minister of Employment and Labour has by Notice (No. R 433) in the Government Gazette (No. 50073 dated 2 February 2024) amended the National Minimum Wage from R25.42 per hour to R27.58 per hour, with effect from 1 March 2024. The amounts applicable to Learners have also been amended. GG 50073 NMW.pdf (hcsbc.co.za)
Revised Annexure H wage schedules will be posted on the Council’s website next week.
COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT: REGISTRATION OF AN ESTABLISHMENT AND REGISTRATION OF EMPLOYEES
The registration of Employers and Employees who fall within the scope and application of the Main Collective Agreement is compulsory.
It has been brought to the attention of the Council that in some cases Employees who are employed subject to a probation period are not being registered. Please note that the Collective Agreement does not provide for such an exclusion.
The following summary is provided to assist Employers and Employees with registration:
Annexure “A” is to be utilised for registration of the Establishment and Annexure “B” in respect of all Employees employed at the Establishment. (Annexures A and B may be downloaded from the Council’s website www.hcsbc.co.za. Alternatively, kindly contact your Agent or Council Offices).
A separate application must be completed in respect of each Establishment operated by an Employer.
Where an Employee (including a Learner or a Student) takes up employment with an Establishment, after the registration of the Establishment, the Employer must, on or before the 7th day of the month following such appointment, notify the Council of such Employee’s appointment, by submitting a completed Annexure “B”.
These documents can be submitted to: accounts@hcsbc.co.za.
Where an Employee (including a Learner or a Student) resigns from an Establishment, the Employer shall, on or before the 7th day of the month following such resignation, notify the Council of such Employee’s resignation, in writing and must include the Employee’s full names, surname, identity number, position held and last working day and send to amend@hcsbc.co.za. A staff amendment form is available for this purpose and may be accessed on the Council’s website.
Membership of the HBSI Pension Fund is mandatory for all employees in the industry, except casual employees. Should the Employer already have a Pension Fund for employees, it may apply for an exemption. However, amongst other considerations, such a Pension Fund should have equal or greater benefits than the Council’s Pension Fund (the HBSI).
The failure by an Employer to pay over Pension Fund contributions, deducted from Employees to the Pension Fund, is a criminal offence.
Please contact your Agent or the Council Offices should you need assistance concerning the abovementioned matters.
THE COUNCIL’S PRETORIA OFFICES HAVE MOVED
As indicated in our previous newsletters, the Council’s Pretoria offices are now situated in Die Wilgers, Pretoria.
The contact details for the Pretoria Office are set out below.
PHYSICAL ADDRESS | POSTAL ADDRESS | TELEPHONE & FAX | |
Unit B2 The Willows Office Park 559 Farm Road Die Wilgers Pretoria | Postnet Suite 0682 Private Bag X1 Die Wilgers 0041 | Tel: 087 094 1816 Fax: 086 585 0314 |
As a result of a vacancy, our Pretoria offices are currently not manned on a full-day basis. Please kindly call the Pretoria offices or your agents (see website for contact details) before going to the offices to ensure that you will be assisted. Alternatively, please call the Johannesburg office on 0861 427 227.
*Please take note that Ms Zola Amos, the Case Manager in the Western Cape, will manage cases for the Pretoria, North-West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo areas on an interim basis. Her email address is zola@hcsbc.co.za and she may be contacted on 021 879 3508 /021 419 832.
Please consult the Council’s WEBSITE for the contact details of Agents in your area.
For more information, contact: www.hcsbc.co.za
