NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION NO:1306 ( NW1450E )

Mr. I M Ollis (DA) to ask the Minister of Labour:

(1) Whether she justifies the fact that the Johannesburg office of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) is the largest dispute resolution centre in the world in view of the fact that South Africa has one of the largest populations in the world; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;

(2) whether she will investigate ways of reducing the workload of the CCMA by amending legislation in order to handle retrenchments, constructive dismissals and similar employment disputes in ways that will cost the taxpayer less; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?               NW1450E

MINISTER OF LABOUR RESPONSE:

1. The Johannesburg office of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) is the largest dispute resolution centre in South Africa in relation to the number of referrals to that office.  For the period, 1 April 2010 to 31 December 2010, the Johannesburg office of the CCMA had 26 000 referrals or 23% of total national referrals to the CCMA.  The next largest office by volume of referrals during the same period was the Cape Town office with 12% of all referrals or 13 830. 

It should be borne in mind that there is not necessarily any direct relationship between population size and volume of labour disputes dealt with by dispute resolution agencies such as the CCMA.  The volume of labour disputes would be affected by a number of factors, such as; the legislative framework, the labour relations system in a country and its level of economic development. 

2. The Department of Labour is not intending to reduce the workload of the CCMA through amendments to legislation. 

Reducing the workload of the CCMA could make it more difficult for employers and employees to have access to dispute resolution services and could ultimately affect access to justice. 

The CCMA, with the support of the Department, is focusing more on ways in which the services of the CCMA could become more efficient and cost effective.

Issued by Parliament, June 22 2011

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter