Pay and rights at work · 1 min read
Workplace dispute in South Africa: prepare a CCMA referral
Separate facts from assumptions and check the correct official dispute-resolution route.
A disagreement about pay, conditions or a workplace change is easier to explain when your documents are organised. This guide helps you prepare without guessing the outcome.
Build a short timeline
List the date, people involved, what happened and the document that supports each event. Keep the original contract, payslips, rosters, letters and messages. A calm, accurate timeline is more useful than a long account that mixes facts with conclusions.
Check the forum before you submit
The government’s CCMA guidance explains that a bargaining council, statutory council or private dispute agreement may affect where a case belongs. It also says the CCMA deals with labour matters, not every disagreement involving an independent contractor.
Protect your information
Use contact details on official CCMA or government pages. Save your reference number and every notice. Never pay a person who says they can place you on a list or guarantee a ruling.