Official records at the South African Department of Labour show that many unions and employer organisations are not “in good standing” in as far as registration procedures and legal requirements expected from bona fide organisations are concerned, the department said on Tuesday in a statement.
According to the latest statistics, at least 72 of the 328 trade unions, as well as 26 out of 61 employer bodies, did not meet the legal requirements and were therefore deregistered, the statement added.
“For unions and employer organisations to be regarded as genuine, they are required to comply with the provisions of sections 98, 99 and 100 of the Labour Relations Act [LRA], which stipulate an annual submission of audited financial statements,” the statement noted.
“The organisation has to function as a genuine establishment as envisaged by section 106(2A) of the LRA.
“The Act stipulates that the registrar may cancel the registration of a trade union or employers’ organisation by removing its name from the appropriate register, if he or she is satisfied that the trade union or employers’ organisation has ceased to be regarded as genuine,” the department said.
Some unions and employer organisations were deregistered as far back as 2001 “for not complying”, it said. — I-Net Bridge