NATIONAL BARGAINING COUNCIL

FOR THE

CLOTHING MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

KwaZulu-Natal Chamber

 

Tel:   031 301 2558/9

Fax:   031 301 6716

www.nbc.org.za

127/129 GALE STREET, UMBILO, DURBAN 4001

P O Box 18354

Dalbridge

4014

 

 

 

Telephone Enquiries : Labour Affairs Department

30 August 2006

 

 

TO :      ALL PARTY & NON-PARTY EMPLOYERS SUBJECT TO PARTS C OF THE COUNCIL’S NATIONAL MAIN COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT (CLOTHING, GARMENT KNITTING, HOSIERY & MILLINERY SECTORS FOR THE “METRO” AREAS ONLY OF THE KWAZULU-NATAL CHAMBER OF THE NATIONAL BARGAINING COUNCIL FOR THE CLOTHING MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY)

           

Dear Sir/Madam

 

INFORMATION CIRCULAR TO THE INDUSTRY FOLLOWING THE 2006 ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS

 

METRO AREAS ONLY

(i.e. those establishments situated within the Magisterial Districts of

Chatsworth, Durban, Inanda, Lower Tugela, Pietermaritzburg and Pinetown))

 

Further to the Council’s Circular NBC/2/2006 of 20 March 2006, this circular summarises the outcome of the Industry negotiations.    The Parties to the National Bargaining Council, after protracted deliberations with third party facilitation, have concluded a Collective Agreement in terms of which the total labour cost increase for all “Metro” regions amounts to 5% with effect from 1 September 2006.   This is made up of a wage increase, a 20 cents per week increase in the HIV/AIDS levy and a 30 cents per week increase in the Bargaining Council levy.

 

The Agreement will be submitted to the Minister of Labour with a request that it be extended to employers and employees in the Industry, other than those who are party to the Agreement, i.e. all Non-Parties.   

 

Details of the negotiated settlement in respect of the KwaZulu-Natal Metro Region (Part C of the Council’s National Main Collective Agreement) are as follows:-

 

1.                    Wage increases for the period commencing 1 September 2006

 

             The new wage rates from 1 September 2006, are attached.

 

             Garment Knitting establishments will receive both a “clothing” and a “garment knitting” wage schedule.

 

       

2.          Contributions

 

2.1     Sick Benefit Fund

 

Employees’ and the Employers’ contributions to the Sick Benefit remain unaltered at 1,5% and 1,75% respectively.

 

2.2     Provident Fund

 

Employer Contribution Rate:

 

The Employer’s contribution rate to the Provident Fund remains unaltered at 7,0%.

 

Employee Contribution Rate:

 

The Employee only contribution rate to the Provident Fund is increased from 6,0% to 6,5%.

2.3     Bargaining Council Levy

 

The deduction per employee and the equivalent amount payable by the Employer in respect of the Bargaining Council Levy is increased from R1,00 to R1.30 per week.

 

2.4          HIV/AIDS

 

The amount payable in respect of employees earning up to R1 418,25 per week or R6 145,75 per month payable by the Employer only, in respect of the SACTWU HIV/AIDS Project, is increased from 10 cents to 30 cents per week.

 

2.5      The 20 cents per week payable by the employer only in respect of the SACTWU Bursary Fund remains unchanged.

 

3.          Trade Union Subscriptions

 

             The Trade Union subscription rate for its members remains unchanged at 1% of the member’s basic wage rate with a new minimum of R4.60 per week and a new maximum of R8.50 per week, effective 1 September 2006, but the contribution rate towards its funeral scheme increases from R1.00 per week to R1.20 per week bringing the total new minimum to R5.80 per week (i.e. the R4.60 plus the R1.20) and the total new maximum to R9.70 per week (i.e. the R8.50 plus the R1.20).  The Trade Union has sent out a separate notice in this regard.

 

4.         Schedule of Deductions

 

             A revised schedule of weekly deductions and contributions is enclosed.

 

5.          Further issues on which agreement was reached

 

5.1     Extension of current gazetted agreements to non-parties

     

The Minister will be requested to extend the current gazetted agreements to non-parties for a further period from 1 September 2006 onwards, until the Parties to the Main Agreement agree otherwise.

 

5.2     Process to Establish a New Approach to Collective Bargaining

 

5.2.1     The parties recognise that it is imperative for the parties to the Council to review their collective bargaining practices and to develop an approach to collective bargaining that is appropriate to the changed circumstances of, and the new pressures on, the industry.

 

5.2.2     The parties commit themselves to develop a new approach to collective bargaining in the industry and to negotiate a national framework agreement.

 

5.2.3     The parties commit themselves to complete the review and negotiations before the commencement of next annual round of negotiations, namely by 31 March 2007.

 

5.2.4     The parties will appoint a working group of employer and trade union representatives to develop the approach and a national agreement. The working group will commence its work in October 2006 and will hold at least 4 meetings arranged by the Council before the end of January 2007 and such further meetings as may be necessary in 2007 to complete its task.

 

5.2.5     The parties will agree a facilitator by 30 September 2006. The facilitator will have the power to-

 

5.2.5.1    determine all process issues arising from the review and negotiations contemplated in this paragraph, and

 

5.2.5.2    terminate the process if, in the opinion of the facilitator, one or more of the parties is not participating in good faith.

 

5.2.6     The proposals concerning a new approach to collective bargaining and a national framework agreement made in the course of the annual negotiations for this substantive agreement shall constitute proposals for consideration under the process envisaged in this paragraph. The parties may amend and supplement those proposals or submit new proposals in accordance with any process determined by the facilitator.

 

6.          Non-Metro Areas  (for the purposes of this circular, means all areas of KZN other than the six Magisterial Districts listed in the bolded heading of this circular)

 

A separate circular is being distributed to all establishments in the non-metro areas, nationally.

 

 

7.         Council’s Website (www.nbc.org.za)

 

           The Council’s website on the Internet is regularly being updated.  Those who have access to the Internet can view and download the Main & Provident Fund Collective Agreements of the various “metro” and non-metro areas.  These are in the form of consolidated agreements i.e. the original published agreements, updated for subsequent published amendments.   This notice will also be added to the Council’s website.

 

 

Any enquiries should be directed to the Labour Affairs Department on tel no (031) 301-2558.

 

 

 

 

Yours faithfully

 

 

 

 

 

 

PAUL WILD

Regional Secretary

 

 

war/wp/Circulars 2006_Annual Increase 2006  Circular  -KZN