Labour Relations Practitioner at Nelson Mandela Bay Metro

Qualifications and experience required:

• A relevant three-year tertiary qualification in Human Resources Management or related field.
• Three to five years’ relevant experience in labour relations.
• Computer literacy.
• Valid Code B driver’s licence.

Key attributes and competencies:

• Ability to lead, conduct and control work according to prescribed norms and standards.
• Ability to interpret, guide and analyse applicable policies and legislative prescripts.  
• Ability to deal with stressful, abusive, traumatised and emotional employees.
• Excellent report-writing skills.
• Good facilitation/advisory and analytical skills.

Summary of duties:

• Deals with disciplinary matters to ensure consistency in the handling of such matters and to promote sound labour relations.
• Investigates cases of incapacity and prolonged absence in order to improve productivity and to meet operational demands/requirements.
• Facilitates the effective/efficient and timeous resolution of grievances/settlements so as to promote sound labour relations.
• Facilitates conciliation proceedings at the South African Local Government Bargaining Council and CCMA in order to avoid judgements/costs against Council during such proceedings.
• Facilitates arbitration hearings by providing the necessary case information to Council's legal representative to avoid embarrassment to the Municipality.
• Identifies/arranges for the training of disciplinary hearing Prosecutors and Presiding Officers by liaising with training institutions in order to improve the competency of such officials.
• Provides routine counselling to employees with regard to the following:
• Alcohol and other substance abuse,
• Excessive sick leave,
• Poor work performance,
• Misconduct
• Provides training to new employees within the Division by mentoring such employees so that an equitable standard of Labour Practice is maintained.
• Identifies areas of conflict affecting the maintenance of sound industrial relations and submits reports thereon to the authorities/committees concerned in an effort to minimise potential IR problems in the institution. This includes assisting in the design of new policies/amending policies in the absence of clear and/or effective policies.
• Renders welfare services, where required, by referring employees to the Council's Occupational Health Practitioner/Government Social Welfare Officers/substance abuse centres such as South African National Cancer Association for the purpose of promoting the wellbeing/rehabilitation of affected employees.