Interview with Light
Engineering Industries
Association chairperson
Edward van Ryneveld
Q
: When did the Light Engineering Industries Association (LEIA)
become federated to SEIFSA?
A
: The Association was established in 1947 as the Associated Manufacturers
of Light Metal Products under the Industrial Conciliation Act, 1937. The
Association was segmented into Industrial Division, i.e. Metal Window and/or Door
and/or Flyscreen Manufacturing Division, Fasteners Manufacturing Division, Light
Stamping and/or Forgings Division, Die Casting and/or Extrusions Division, Edge
Tool Manufacturing Division (which subsequently formed its own Association, the
Edge-Hand and Small Tool Manufacturers’ Association which then became the Hand
Tool Manufacturers” Association), Wire Products Division, Hardware Manufacturing
Division, Chain Manufacturing Division and the Light Fabrication Division. The
Association joined SEIFSA in 1951 and in 1958 it changed its name to the Light
Engineering Industries Association of South Africa.
Q
A
: What were the Association’s reasons for wanting to be a part
of the Federation?
: Since the formation of SEIFSA in 1943, this brought together employers in the
steel and engineering industries, thereby strengthening the ability to negotiate
collective bargaining agreements at a national level, an industry level and the individual
company level. Being federated to SEIFSA ensures that the interests of members
are represented in a collective basis and via the principle of agency or mandate at
sectoral, industry and plant level. SEIFSA represents employers on the boards of the
Engineering Industries Pension Fund, the Metal Industries Provident Fund, the Metal
and Engineering Industries Permanent Disability Scheme, the Metal and Engineering
Industries Bargaining Council Sick Pay Fund, the Metal and Engineering Industries
Bargaining Council and the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Seta
(Merseta). At a macro level, SEIFSA is a member of Business Unity South Africa
(BUSA), the National Economic, Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC),
National Skills Authority (NSA) and the Human Resource Development Council
(HRDC), among others.
Edward va Ryneveld
LEIA Chairperson
Q
A
: What has been the Association’s experience with being
federated to SEIFSA?
Through the Association’s affiliation to SEIFSA, the Association has continued
to remain relevant and to grow its’ membership base, despite a difficult
economic climate.
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