ELRC 202324 Annual Report

EDUCATION LABOUR RELATIONS COUNCIL | 2023/24 ANNUAL REPORT

L EDUCATION LABOUR RELATIONS COUNCI

Dispute Prevention: The following programmes were implemented as a measure to minimise disputes during the 2023/24 financial year:

No

Programme

Facilitator

Target group

Training Focus

1 Training of School Principals held on 7-27 September 2023 2 Dispute Resolution Practitioners Training

ECDoE

School Principals

• Abscondment • Sexual Harassment

ELRC

Labour Relation Practitioners and unions

• Promotion matters • Appointments • Pre-Arbitration and joinder

3 Labour Law Seminar that was held on 12-13 February 2024

ELRC

Labour Relation Practitioners and unions

• POPI Act • ULP: Promotion • Collective Agreement No 3 of 2016

Language in Education Policy : The Eastern Cape Department of Education is implementing the Language Policy in Education (LiEP of 1997) through the Incremental Introduction of African Language (IIAL) and Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education (MTBBE) strategies. Parties at the Chamber resolved that a workshop on Language in Education Policy implementation should be organised by the department. The Workshop was held on 14 September 2023 and the following topics were presented: • ECDoE LieP Implementation Plan by Mr Wababa, Director: Education Language Policy Department of Education. • ECDoE Reading Strategy by Ms P. Vinjevold • Establishment of DBE Language unit by Prof Makalela of Wits University • Language policies of universities – Prof Ralarala from the University of the Western Cape • In-service and Pre-service Teacher Development on Multilingual Pedagogies – Dr Ramadiro from Fort Hare University The Minister of Basic Education, Hon. Ms Motsekga, launched a Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education (MTBBE) on 21 February 2024 at the East London International Convention Centre (EL-ICC). Labour Management Partnership : The programme was introduced to the province at the provincial launch held at the East London International Convention Centre - EC on 8 June 2023. Mr Jonavon Rustin, presented the framework for Labour Management Collaboration Partnership in South Africa, with examples of initiative structures and webs of support. STANCO members welcomed and appreciated the ELRC initiative. STANCO members also appreciated that the province was granted the responsibility of establishing Labour Management Structures on their own. Training of Negotiators : The training was held on 17 and 18 August 2023 and was attended by the Chamber negotiators. Topics covered by the training were: An overview of Collective Bargaining; Collective Agreements; Interpretation of Collective Agreements; Application/Enforcement of Collective Agreements; and Draft Skills and Collective Bargaining Skills. The objective of the training was to ensure that each negotiator understands the basic principles of Bargaining, Conflict Management and Negotiation Skills. Parties appreciated the training and indicated that the engagement at the level of Chambers will improve going forward. A Labour Seminar was conducted taking on board PELRC representatives on the latest developments in the labour law space. Parties at the PELRC realised that ongoing updates on labour law developments, especially the judgments by the various courts, are essential in Dispute Prevention and Management. Parties also realised that the ever-changing labour law requires practitioners who are combat-ready when confronted by complex matters relating to employer employee relations. Parties agreed that a labour law seminar conducted by competent labour law experts will serve as a good platform wherein the latest developments on dismissals, unfair labour practice and collective bargaining can be discussed. The seminar was conducted on 12 and 13 February 2024.

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