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Labour Relations and Employee Discipline in the Public Sector

This course covers labour relations practice specific to South African municipalities and public entities, including collective bargaining structures, the bargaining council dispute process, disciplinary hearings, grievance handling and managing industrial action. Participants build practical skills in chairing hearings, drafting charges that will survive arbitration, and applying the Labour Relations Act and relevant bargaining council collective agreements correctly.

What you will be able to do

  • Explain the labour relations framework applicable to municipalities and public entities.
  • Distinguish between misconduct, incapacity and operational requirements as grounds for dismissal.
  • Draft disciplinary charges that meet the evidentiary standards required at arbitration.
  • Chair a disciplinary hearing following fair procedure under the Labour Relations Act.
  • Manage grievances and workplace disputes before they escalate to the bargaining council.
  • Prepare a strike management plan for protected and unprotected industrial action.

Course outline

  1. 01Public Sector Labour Relations Framework
  2. 02Bargaining Councils and Collective Agreements
  3. 03Grounds for Disciplinary Action
  4. 04Drafting Defensible Charges
  5. 05Chairing Disciplinary Hearings
  6. 06Grievance Procedures
  7. 07Dispute Resolution and Arbitration
  8. 08Managing Industrial Action

Who should attend

This course is aimed at human resource managers, labour relations officers, presiding officers and line managers who handle discipline and grievances in the public sector.

Dates, venues and fees

DatesVenueDaysFeeCalendar
17 to 18 Aug 2026Johannesburg2R10,000
31 Aug to 1 Sep 2026Mauritius2US$1,100
7 to 8 Sep 2026Dubai2US$1,100
14 to 15 Sep 2026Lagos2US$1,100
21 to 22 Sep 2026Harare2US$1,100
28 to 29 Sep 2026Kampala2US$1,100
5 to 6 Oct 2026Dar es Salaam2US$1,100
12 to 13 Oct 2026Pretoria2R10,000
19 to 20 Oct 2026Cape Town2R10,000
2 to 3 Nov 2026Online2US$900
9 to 10 Nov 2026Mozambique2US$1,100
16 to 17 Nov 2026Cairo2US$1,100
23 to 24 Nov 2026Accra2US$1,100
30 Nov to 1 Dec 2026Lusaka2US$1,100
7 to 8 Dec 2026Kigali2US$1,100
14 to 15 Dec 2026Nairobi2US$1,100
21 to 22 Dec 2026Durban2R10,000

Fees are per delegate. South African venues are priced in rand; other locations and online in US dollars. Fees exclude 15% VAT where applicable. Group bookings of three or more delegates from the same organisation qualify for a reduced rate; contact us for a quotation.

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