Description

Workplace forums are established to:

• promote the interests of all employees in the workplace, not only of trade union members
• enhance efficiency in the workplace
• consult employees on certain matters
• include employees in joint decision making on other matters.

A workplace forum may be established in any workplace with more than 100 employees. This number excludes senior managerial employees. An application may only be made if a workplace forum does not exist in terms of the Labour Relations Act, 1995.

Steps to follow

• The union must attach a certified copy of a collective agreement, which serves as proof of its recognition by the employer. 
• A representative of the trade union or unions must complete the LRA 5.1 form.
  
• A copy of this form must be served on the other party (employer) and proof of service of the copy of the form must be included by attaching the following documentation:
  
• a copy of a registered slip from the Post Office
• a copy of a signed receipt if a copy of the form was delivered by hand
• a signed statement from the person who delivered the copy of the form confirming service
  
• a copy of a fax confirmation slip or any other satisfactory proof of service.
• Send a completed form and proof of service to the Registrar: Provincial Office of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
  

Legal framework

(Documents are provided in PDF format. To open PDF documents, you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader 4 or higher installed on your computer.)

Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act 66 of 1995) Section 80(1)

Service standard

It may take 30 days to establish the forum.

Cost

The service is free.

Forms to complete

(Forms are provided in PDF format. To open PDF documents, you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader 4 or higher installed on your computer.)

• Representative trade union applies to establish a workplace forum, Form LRA5
• Representative trade union applies to establish a trade union-based workplace forum, Form LRA5.2

Contact details

CCMA call centre number: 0861 16 16 16