5 minutes with the South African Society for Labour Law 

This month’s column features the South African Society for Labour Law (Saslaw). De Rebus news editor Nomfundo Manyathi spoke to Saslaw’s national coordinator, Clare Fincham, about the organisation. 

What is Saslaw?

Saslaw’s purpose is to bring together people who are active in labour law and labour relations in South Africa and who have an interest in advancing and promoting labour law as a legal and academic profession. Saslaw aims to promote the practice of labour law. 

What does Saslaw do?

Saslaw promotes the exchange of ideas and information concerning labour law, as well as collaboration between lawyers and other experts in the field of labour law by holding regular seminars and workshops in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth. An annual conference is held in October and newsletters, research and surveys are undertaken by the national committee. 
Saslaw also offers pro bono advice at the four Labour Courts in the country. 
 
When was Saslaw established? 

Saslaw was established in June 1997. 

Who can become a member of Saslaw? 

Saslaw membership is open to advocates, attorneys, labour consultants, commissioners at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, arbitrators, mediators, academics, Labour Court and Labour Appeal Court judges, government officials, human resources personnel and industrial relations personnel. 

How does one become a member? 

Anyone involved in labour law in South Africa can complete an application form, which can be found on the Saslaw website. Successful members will be asked to pay an annual membership fee. 
The current fees are: 

• R 700 for attorneys, candidate attorneys, advocates, arbitrators, industrial relations practitioners, trade union officials and commissioners. 
• R 500 for Labour Court associates, pupil advocates, full-time students, academics and country members (a country member is someone who is more than 100 kilometres from the nearest chapter).
• Members can also pay an extra R 70 for membership to the International Society for Labour and Social Security Law. 

What is Saslaw’s current membership? 

We currently have 1 180 members countrywide. 

Does Saslaw have offices in each province or just a national office? 

The Gauteng and national office is based in Johannesburg and there are chapters in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban. 

Contact information 
National office:
Clare Fincham
PO Box 4858, Cresta, 
Johannesburg, 2118
Tel: (011) 431 1237
E-mail: saslwadmin@mweb.co.za
Website: www.saslaw.org.za

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Nomfundo Manyathi, 
nomfundo@derebus.org.za