Rules for the Conduct of Proceedings Before the CCMA

Oct 3, 2026

Rules for the conduct of proceedings before the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) are published under rule 115(6) of the Labour Relations Act, 1995, including amended LRA forms. The document sets out procedural requirements for serving, filing, and calculating time periods, including signatures and proof of service. It further regulates dispute conciliation, con-arb, arbitrations, related applications, pre-dismissal arbitration, and general matters such as condonation, subpoenas, witness fees, and enforcement of awards.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages25

Reading Time1 h 3 min

AccessFree to download

PART ONE SERVING AND FILING DOCUMENTS

1 How to contact the Commission

2 When are the offices of the Commission open

3 How to calculate time periods in these Rules

4 Who must sign documents

5 How to serve documents on other parties

6 How to prove that a document was served in terms of the rules

7 How to file documents with the Commission

8 Documents and notices sent by registered post

9 How to seek condonation for documents filed late

PART TWO CONCILIATION OF DISPUTES

10 How to refer a dispute to the Commission for conciliation

11 What notice must the Commission give of a conciliation

12 Commission may seek to resolve dispute before conciliation

13 What happens if a party fails to attend or is not represented at conciliation

14 How to determine whether a commissioner may conciliate a dispute

15 Issuing a certificate in terms of section 135(5)

16 Conciliation proceedings may not be disclosed

PART THREE CON-ARB IN TERMS OF SECTION 191(5A)

17 Conduct of con-arb in terms of section 191(5A)

PART FOUR ARBITRATIONS

18 How to request arbitration

19 When must the parties file statements

20 When the parties must hold a pre-arbitration conference

21 What notice must the commission give of an arbitration

22 How to determine whether a Commissioner may arbitrate a dispute

23 How to postpone an arbitration

PART FIVE RULES THAT APPLY TO CONCILIATIONS AND ARBITRATIONS AND CON ARBS

24 Where a conciliation or arbitration will take place

25 Representation before the commission

26 How to join or substitute parties to proceedings

27 How to correct a citation of a party

28 When the Commission may consolidate disputes

29 Disclosure of documents

30 What happens if a party fails to attend proceedings before the Commission

PART SIX APPLICATIONS

31 How to bring an application

32 How to apply to vary or rescind arbitration awards or rulings

33 How to apply to refer a dismissal dispute to the Labour Court

PART SEVEN PRE-DISMISSAL ARBITRATION IN TERMS OF SECTION 188A

34 How to request a pre-dismissal arbitration in terms of section 188A

PART EIGHT GENERAL

35 Condonation for failure to comply with the rules

36 Recordings of Commission proceedings

37 How to have a subpoena issued

38 Payment of witness fees

39 Taxation of bills of cost

40 Certification and enforcement of arbitration awards

41 What words mean in these Rules

Schedule 1 Addresses of the Commission

RULES FOR THE CONDUCT OF PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE CCMA Act Published under GN R1448 in GG 25515 of 10 October 2003 as amended by GN R1512 in GG 25607 of 17 October 2003 GN R1748 of 2003 in GG 25797 of 5 December 2003) (as corrected by GN R530 of 2004 in GG 26279 of 30 April 2004) GN R1793 of 2003 in GG 25826 of 12 December 2003)(as corrected by GNs R531 and R532 of 2004 in GG 26279 of 30 April 2004) GN R380 in GG 27490 of 22 April 2005 GN R97 in GG 29587 of 9 February 2007 (as amended by GN R1176 in GG 31564 of 7 November 2008) COMMISSION FOR CONCILIATION, MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION The Governing Body of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration hereby, in terms of rule 115(6) of the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act 66 of 1995), publishes the rules and the amended LRA forms 7.16, 7.17, 7.18 and 7.18A in terms of section 115(2A) . TABLE OF CONTENTS PART ONE SERVING AND FILING DOCUMENTS 1 How to contact the Commission 2 When are the offices ofthe Commission open 3 How to calculate time periods in these Rules 4 Who must sign documents 5 How to serve documents on other parties 6 How to prove that a document was served in terms of the rules 7 How to file documents with the Commission 8 Documents and notices sent by registered post 9 How to seek condonation for documents filed late PART TWO CONCILIATION OF DISPUTES 10 How to refer a dispute to the Commission for conciliation 11 What notice must the Commission give of a conciliation 12 Commission may seek to resolve dispute before conciliation 13 What happens if a party fails to attend or is not represented at conciliation 14 How to determine whether a commissioner may conciliate a dispute 15 Issuing a certificate in terms of section 135(5) 16 Conciliation proceedings may not be disclosed PART THREE CON-ARB IN TERMS OF SECTION 191(5A) 17 Conduct of con-arb in terms of section 191(5A) PART FOUR ARBITRATIONS 18 How to request arbitration 19 When must the parties file statements 20 When the parties must hold a pre-arbitration conference 21 What notice must the commission give of an arbitration 22 How to determine whether a Commissioner may arbitrate a dispute 23 How to postpone an arbitration PART FIVE RULES THAT APPLY TO CONCILIATIONS AND ARBITRATIONS AND CON ARBS 24 Where a conciliation or arbitration will take place 25 Representation before the commission [Rule 25 corrected by GN R1748 of 5 December 2003.] 26 How to join or substitute parties to proceedings 27 How to correct a citation of a party 28 When the Commission may consolidate disputes 29 Disclosure of documents 30 What happens ifa party fails to attend proceedings before the Commission PART SIX APPLICATIONS 31 How to bring an application 32 How to apply to vary or rescind arbitration awards or rulings 33 How to apply to refer a dismissal dispute to the Labour Court PART SEVEN PRE-DISMISSAL ARBITRATION IN TERMS OF SECTION 188A 34 How to request a pre-dismissal arbitration in terms of section 188A PART EIGHT GENERAL 35 Condonation for failure to comply with the rules 36 Recordings of Commission proceedings 37 How to have a subpoena issued 38 Payment of witness fees 39 Taxation of bills of cost 40 Certification and enforcement of arbitration awards 41 What words mean in these Rules Schedule 1 Addresses of the Commisssion Document 2 of 10 PART ONE SERVING AND FILING DOCUMENTS (rules 1-9) 1 How to contact the Commission 1) The addresses, telephone and telefax numbers of the offices of the Commission are listed in Schedule One to these Rules. 2) Documents may only be filed with the Commission at the addresses or telefax numbers listed in Schedule One. 2 When are the offices of the Commission open 1) The head office and the provincial offices of the Commission will be open everyday from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays, between the hours of 08h30 and

FAQs

Under what legal basis are the CCMA rules and amended forms published?

They are published in terms of rule 115(6) of the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act 66 of 1995), and the amended LRA forms are published in terms of section 115(2A).

What are the CCMA office hours for serving and filing documents?

The head office and provincial offices are open Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) between 08h30 and 16h30, or as determined by the Commission.

How must a party serve documents on other parties according to the rules?

Service may be done by handing a copy to specified persons, leaving a copy at an address or premises as allowed, faxing/telexing, or sending the document by the permitted methods stated in the rules.

Oct 3, 2026

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