The management of municipal labour relations between the employer and the employees is addressed for the purpose of providing effective and efficient services within the municipal area of jurisdiction which is governed by labour legislation e.g. labour Relations Act 66 of 1995, Basic Conditions of Employment Act 75 of 1997, Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, skills development Act 97 of 1998, Skills Development Levies Act 9 of 1999, Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 and Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act 130 of 1993. 

One of the key functions of the Labour Relations Section is to conduct induction programmes to new and old employees within the municipality. The relationship between the employer and the employees is based on the terms and conditions of employment contract. It is important that employees are also made aware of the provisions of Health and Safety related legislations. 

Staff Induction 

Induction is an important tool used in a planned way to assist new employees to adapt to their job, their fellow employees and the organisation as a whole. It also helps them to be productive, and feel welcomed. Induction training programmes are rendered to all newly employed and old employees with regard to the municipality’s systems and procedures and the code of conduct for the staff. 

This also encompasses compliance of staff with the Bargaining Council’s Collective Agreement and other applicable labour legislation e.g. Disciplinary Code and Grievance Procedure Collective Agreement and Minimum Essential Services Agreement which ensures that a certain number of employees will provide services to our community during the strike in order to protect the lives of the people. 

Labour Policy Development 

A Recruitment and Selection Policy has been evolved which is in line with Employment Equity and which ensures that the imbalances of the past are addressed. This has been done through identifying barriers and under representation of previously disadvantaged group to all occupational categories and levels thereby promoting equal opportunities and elimination of unfair discrimination, and progressively reducing disproportionate income differentials, as well as to achieve a diverse workforce broadly representative of the people. Other polices developed include an Abscondment Policy which is a useful tool in managing and controlling absenteeism, and the Succession Planning and Career Pathing Policy which will ensure the continuity of suitably qualified staff in key posts for the future. Career paths for individual staff members are developed to assist them in their career advancement, creating more enthusiasm and productivity in their jobs. This will be utilised to achieve both the departmental and organisational goals. 

uMngeni Disciplinary Procedure

The goal of Human Resource Management is to strategically manage the Municipal Human Capital of the entire organisation of uMngeni Municipality focusing on the following aspects:- 

• Contributing towards the process of restructuring the Organization in terms of the needs and challenges of uMngeni Municipality within its changing Integrated Development Plan. 
• Recruitment and Selection of staff, and retaining the existing staff. 
• Human Resources Development which impacts on Quality Service Delivery and Integrated Development Planning, and the Development of a Workplace Skills Plan and implementation thereof. 
• Study Assistance Programmes, and offering in-service training to aspiring trainees who have completed tertiary levels of education. 
• Policy Development and Implementation 
• Implementation and Monitoring Performance Management systems for improved Service Delivery. 

In order to meet the statutory requirements of the MFMA in terms of ensuring that all senior management and finance staff are well equipped with finance management skills, the municipality will be sending the finance staff to a finance course. The uMngeni Municipality Study Assistance Programme sharpens skills, and increases staff capacity. To date, we have utilized the services of the following institutions:- 

• University of KwaZulu Natal; 
• Varsity College; 
• Durban University of Technology;

UMngeni Municipality Equity Plan

COMING SOON

he department is responsible for the overall recruitment and well-being of the staff, maintenance of buildings belonging to the municipality, security of municipal buildings, labour relations’ component, registry services and ICT support.

This department’s core functions are as follows:

• human resource management
• Labour relations
• Corporate services
• ICT