By: Sisekelo Khumalo

The Minister of Labour Mildred Oliphant and the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) met with firm and contract workers on Monday at the Durban City
Hall, to address the issues brought up by the workers.

This comes after a document of complaints about the CCMA was sent to department of labour by the workers.

In the document sent to the department of labor, workers were complaining about the CCMA and cases that take years to be resolved and the working conditions, unfair dismissals, leaves
and working on contract for years.

They also accused the CCMA of not being helpful towards workers and showing signs of “favoritism,” said Sifiso Ngwenya as they questioned the criteria used in the appointment of
new CSC head.

According to CCMA National Director Nerin Khan, there are factually incorrect statements within the document; one of them being the number of Indians in managerial positions at
CCMA which is three not the five that was mentioned in the document.

And also explained the criteria used in the appointment of the CSC head of CCMA and that it was fair.

She also asked workers to forward her their case numbers and promised to investigate on the matter cases that drag on for years.

“Workers called for change within the CCMA and seek protection from the CCMA and as they claim to have suffered enough,” added Khan.

The Minister of Labor said, “Protection is assured to workers as and there will a response in writing after the matter has been dealt with, with the national executive director.”

She went on to comment on workers working on contracts as Sipho Zulu claimed to have been working on contract for more than “10 years” and assured them that the labour
amendment act states as from this year that, no workers should work on contract for more than three months.

Despite the presence of Khan and other minister’s associates, workers had more questions to ask.