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Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act No. 66 of 1995)

Chapter VII : Dispute Resolution

Part C : Resolution of disputes under auspices of Commission

145. Review of arbitration awards

 

(1) Any party to a dispute who alleges a defect in any arbitration proceedings under the auspices of the Commission may apply to the Labour Court for an order setting aside the arbitration award—
(a) within six weeks of the date that the award was served on the applicant, unless the alleged defect involves the commission of an offence referred to in Part 1 to 4, or section 17, 20 or 21 (insofar as it relates to the aforementioned offences) of Chapter 2 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2004; or
(b) if the alleged defect involves an offence referred to in paragraph (a), within six weeks of the date that the applicant discovers such offence.

[Section 145(1) substituted by section 36(1) of Act No. 12 of 2004, GG 26311, dated 28 April 2004]

 

(1A) The Labour Court may on good cause shown condone the late filing of an application in terms of subsection (1).

[Section 145(1A) inserted by section 34 of Act No.12 of 2002, GG 23540, dated 24 June 2002]

 

(2) A defect referred to in subsection (1), means—
(a) that the commissioner—
(i) committed misconduct in relation to the duties of the commissioner as an arbitrator;
(ii) committed a gross irregularity in the conduct of the arbitration proceedings; or
(iii) exceeded the commissioner"s powers; or
(b) that an award has been improperly obtained.

 

(3) The Labour Court may stay the enforcement of the award pending its decision.

 

(4) If the award is set aside, the Labour Court may—
(a) determine the dispute in the manner it considers appropriate; or
(b) make any order it considers appropriate about the procedures to be followed to determine the dispute.

 

(5) Subject to the rules of the Labour Court, a party who brings an application under subsection (1) must apply for a date for the matter to be heard within six months of delivery of the application, and the Labour Court may, on good cause shown, condone a late application for a date for the matter to be heard.

[Section 145(5) inserted by section 22 of Act No. 6 of 2014]

 

(6) Judgment in an application brought under subsection (1) must be handed down as soon as reasonably possible.

[Section 145(6) inserted by section 22 of Act No. 6 of 2014]

 

(7) The institution of review proceedings does not suspend the operation of an arbitration award, unless the applicant furnishes security to the satisfaction of the Court in accordance with subsection (8).

[Section 145(7) inserted by section 22 of Act No. 6 of 2014]

 

(8) Unless the Labour Court directs otherwise, the security furnished as contemplated in subsection (7) must—
(a) in the case of an order of reinstatement or re—employment, be equivalent to 24 months’ remuneration; or
(b) in the case of an order of compensation, be equivalent to the amount of compensation awarded.

[Section 145(8) inserted by section 22 of Act No. 6 of 2014]

 

(9) An application to set aside an arbitration award in terms of this section interrupts the running of prescription in terms of the Prescription Act, 1969 (Act No. 68 of 1969), in respect of that award.

[Section 145(9) inserted by section 22 of Act No. 6 of 2014]

 

(10) Subsections (5) to (8) apply to an application brought after the date of commencement of the Labour Relations Amendment Act, 2014 and subsection (9) applies to an arbitration award issued after such commencement date.

[Section 145(10) inserted by section 22 of Act No. 6 of 2014]