With CCMA Online, the Conciliation, Conciliation and Arbitration Commission (CCMA) is a statutory body created under the Industrial Relations Act 1995, as amended. It is an independent, autonomous organization established to provide services that ensure fair labor practices. Its mission is to promote social justice and To promote fairness.
In other words, CCMA lawsuits can be filed for unfair dismissal, unfair labor practices, unfair layoffs, or forced resignations (constructive dismissals). No specific CCMA legal advice or a “CCMA attorney” is required. CCMA cases are free to open and conduct. However, there are implied costs (CCMA case costs typically do not include transportation to and from CCMA, nor the time and effort involved in the case).
The CCMA website has largely mitigated these costs by taking much of the CCMA online. From opening a case at the CCMA (the CCMA 7.11 form), to applying for condonation (missing the CCMA deadline), to applying for CCMA arbitration (filling out the CCMA 7.13 form), you’ll find the CCMA process very efficient.
CCMA online applications generally begin with the 7.11 CCMA form (Standard CCMA procedure). It is recommended that you use a desktop or laptop and not a mobile phone to fill it out as CCMA online services do require you to type out many of the aspects of your CCMA case (or CCMA complaint).
Make sure to have your contact details, the contact details of the opposing party, and a brief summary of the dispute ready, as this will help you fill in the form faster.
In regard to the CCMA contact details that you provide, make sure that they are appropriate (i.e. if you are an employee complaining about an employer, make sure to use a private email address and cell phone number, not the ones the company may have provided you).
You will also be asked for closest CCMA office to your location, so before you begin the application it would be a good idea to Google “CCMA near me” or “closest CCMA offices”. You could also search via your location (i.e. “CCMA Centurion”; “CCMA Somerset west”; “CCMA Worcester”; etc.). For your convenience, were is a list of the main CCMA offices in South Africa.