The 2027 Round of Industry Wages and Terms & Conditions of Employment

As South Africa’s metals and engineering sector continues to navigate economic pressure, rising operating costs, labour challenges and ongoing uncertainty across the industrial landscape, the next round of industry wage negotiations is expected to carry significant implications for businesses across the value chain.

Join the Southern African Institute of Steel Construction (SAISC) and SEIFSA (Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa) for an important online industry discussion unpacking what businesses can realistically expect from the 2027 round of negotiations and how the sector may prepare for the road ahead.

This webinar will explore the anticipated business climate, the cost of doing business, labour affordability, industry sustainability and the prospects of early settlement versus potentially damaging strike and lock-out action. The session will also reflect on lessons learnt from the previous round of industry negotiations and whether these experiences position the sector more favourably as it approaches 2027.

The webinar will feature presentations from both speakers, followed by a 30-minute live Q&A session with attendees.

Event Details:

Format: Online Webinar
Date: Thursday, 2 July 2026
Time: 13:00 – 14:30
Registration closing date: Wednesday, 1 July 2026 (Registration and Zoom Link Details TBC)
Enquiries: liezel@saisc.co.za

Speakers

Tafadzwa Chibanguza

Tafadzwa “Taffie” Chibanguza is the Chief Executive Officer of SEIFSA, where he leads the Federation’s advocacy agenda across industrial policy, trade, and broader economic and social policy matters affecting South Africa’s metals and engineering sector.

He has extensive experience in economic analysis and policy, having previously served as an Economist at the Minerals Council South Africa, as well as Senior Economist at SEIFSA. Earlier in his career, he worked as a Technical Wealth and Investment Analyst at Rand Merchant Bank.

He holds a BCom in Economics and Econometrics from the University of Johannesburg, a BCom Honours in Economic Policy, and a Master of Commerce in Economic Policy. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Mining Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Lucio Trentini

Mr Trentini is an Executive Director of SEIFSA and the Federation’s Chief Collective Bargaining Negotiator. Having joined the Federation in 1990, he has gained extensive experience in the metals and engineering sector, particularly within the centralised collective bargaining and industrial relations processes that take place at national level between employers and trade unions.

Over the years, he has developed strong working relationships with employer and trade union leadership structures across the sector and has earned the trust of key industry stakeholders.

Mr Trentini holds a BA degree in Economics and Industrial Psychology, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Management from the

University of the Witwatersrand and Wits Business School respectively, as well as an Expert Negotiator Certificate from the Gordon Institute of Business Science at the University of Pretoria.

This session is recommended for industry leaders, employers, HR and labour relations professionals, manufacturers, fabricators, merchants, business owners and stakeholders operating within the metals, engineering and steel sectors.

For registration queries or further information, please contact liezel@saisc.co.za.