MINUTES
of a meeting of the Human Resources Forum
held at Chamber House, 190 Stanger Street, Durban
On Monday, 16 April 2007 at 15h00
PRESENT:
Toni Acton (in the Chair) Behr
Tony Kruger DRG Outsoursing
Nicky Crawford HRTorQue Outsourcing
Cyril Mkhwanazi eThekwini Municipality
Linda Smith Compass HR
Lara Hill Kelly
Kathy Morgan Kelly
Bheki Khumalo Deneys Reitz Attorneys
Delys Brouckaert St Mary’s Hospital
Geoff Warren PIFSA
Wonder Mlitwa St Mary’s Hopital
Karen Walls Idwala Sales and Distribution
Dirk Scholtz Telkom
Sifiso Ngubane LBS
Wayne Scheffermann MPC Recruitment
Tessa Schuurman MPC Recruitment
BY INVITATION:
Chris Haralambous Chris Haralambous Attorneys
APOLOGIES:
Dumie Mgeyane Dunlop Tyres
Steve Vorster SEIFSA/DCCI
Melany Bydewell HRTorque Outsourcing
Romy Rycroft NPC
Steve Rubidge Frame
Olwen Telemaque CRS
Kylie Griffin PFK Electronics
George Wessels BSNmedical
Menanteau Serfontein Tongaat Hulett
1. WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENT
Toni Acton the vice-chair, welcomed members and thanked them for attending. Lara Hill of Kelly and Wonder Mlitwa of St Mary’s Hospital were attending for the first time.
2. APOLOGIES
Toni gave apologies on behalf of Dumie Mgeyani and Steve Vorster and explained that the additional apologies would be recorded in the minutes.
3 MONTHLY FOCUS
Chris Haralambous of Chris Haralambous Attorneys gave an informative presentation on “Current issues concerning Contracts of Employment”. For further details he can be contacted by telephone on 031 563 0221 or by e-mail on .
4. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 19 March 2007 were confirmed as true.
5. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES BUT NOT APPEARING ELSEWHERE ON THE AGENDA
Nothing to report.
6. HUMAN RESOURCES/INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
6.1 Basic Conditions of Employment
Nothing to report.
6.2 Industrial Relations
With regard to the meeting held with Trade Union Federations, it was agreed that it would be well mannered on the Chamber’s part to respond to the federations’ request that business’s views on the various issues they were requested to report on, be responded to. As the Chairperson was unable to attend the Board meeting held on 30 March, this ‘report back’ would be carried forward to the Board meeting to be held on 25 April 2007.
As it would be necessary to formulate ‘mandated’ answers to various issues reported on, a possible suggestion was a convening of a meeting of the steering committee of the original Forum representatives, to formulate a set of answers to be considered by the Board of Management.
7. TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
The Chair asked whether or not any members had attended the IPM breakfast presentation on HR Strategies for Managing Absenteeism by Dr Brad Beira. Kathy Morgan reported that it had been worthwhile and covered various methods on how to measure absenteeism.
The Chair informed members that ABSA Healthcare Consultants were hosting a free workshop on the same topic, to be held at the Chamber from 09h00 to 11h00 on 17 April and flyers were distributed.
The Chair stated that the National Business Initiative was hosting a business breakfast at Mondi Sports Club on 9 May, the topic being “A Strategic partnership for Skills and Growth – JIPSA”. It was suggested that those interested, contact Diana Boast for further information.
An HR applications workshop on Recruitment and Selection, Recruitment Agencies, Contracts and Job Descriptions is to be held on 2 May 2007. Members were asked to contact Diana Boast if they were interested in facilitating in future workshops. An attempt is made to hold a workshop directed at SMME’s focusing on practical HR issues, on a quarterly basis.
8. EMPLOYMENT EQUITY/BROAD-BASED BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
8.1 Employment Equity
Nothing to report.
8.2 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment
Nothing to report.
9. HEALTH CARE
9.1 HIV/Aids/Employee Assistance Programmes
Nothing to report.
9.2 Occupational Health and Safety/COID
Follow-up, on the fax signed by Prof Dumisa to Dr Nyembezi, head of KZN Department of Health requesting urgent authorization of the proposed policy on the free supply of family planning stocks to company based family planning clinics, established that the fax has been received however, no reply has been forthcoming as yet.
9.3 Medical Aid
General discussion centered on various issues.
10. REPORTS
10.1 DCCI Board of Management
The date of the next Board Meeting is 25 April and the Chairperson is to confirm his attendance.
10.2 Sub-Committee: CCMA
A member at the previous meeting raised the issue that in certain centers the CCMA was requesting a motivation for objections to Con/Arb and asked if an official guideline had been issued by the CCMA. Feedback from a senior commissioner was that they are encouraged to promote Con/Arb, so when an objection is received the CCMA ask for a reason, which is recorded. Molly Patel, the dispute resolution manager is prepared to address the forum on Con/Arb and reasons for its promotion, if they would like this.
11. DISCUSSION OF TOPICAL HR ISSUES
The Chairperson reminded members that this was their opportunity to share information and obtain opinions from those present. The issues discussed were creative recruitment practices and sick leave, however no details of the discussions are minuted. A member expressed the opinion that this was a very beneficial part of the meeting and others agreed.
12. GENERAL
A suggestion was that a core of experienced HR Managers be requested to attend at least 2 meetings and take responsibility for ensuring discussion.
13. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Toni confirmed that the next meeting is to be held on Monday 21 May 2007. Diana Boast to contact Dr Terry Davies of Jobworx to establish whether she would be available to speak on “The skills development process/learnerships and lessons learnt”.
Toni thanked members for attending and invited them to network over drinks and snacks sponsored by MPC Recruitment Group.
This concluded the business and the Chairman declared the meeting closed………………………
DATE ………………………