CCMA referral help for South African employees

Know the CCMA step you are facing.

Referral, conciliation, con-arb and arbitration are different stages. Identify your stage, deadline and documents before you prepare the next step.

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Employee-side process preparation · South Africa only · Not legal representation

Three questions clarify most CCMA situations.

What happened?Dismissal, suspension, demotion, discipline, wages, discrimination and workplace changes may follow different routes.

When did it happen?Referral time limits can be short. Record the dismissal date, appeal outcome or date of the disputed act.

Which stage is next?Check whether you are referring, attending conciliation, preparing for con-arb or requesting arbitration.

Do not assume every dispute belongs at the CCMA.

If a Bargaining Council covers your employer or industry, that council may be the correct forum. The assessment helps identify the likely route before you spend time on the wrong process.

Check the Bargaining Council route Unfair dismissal support Official CCMA referral page

Protect the deadline before perfecting the paperwork.

Start with the key date and current stage. Your assessment will show what information to organise next.

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