The parties to this bargaining council are the:

- Employers Organisation for Hairdressing, Cosmetology and Beauty, (hereinafter referred to as the ‘employers' organisation’ or ‘EOHCB’) who represent ALL employers in the hairdressing and cosmetology services industry; and

- AHBEASA (Afro Hairdressing & Beauty Employers’ Association of South Africa), (hereinafter referred to as the ‘employers' organisation for Afro’ or ‘AHBEASA’) who represent ALL employers in the hairdressing and cosmetology services industry in the Afro Sector; and

- UASA The Union (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Union’ or ‘UASA’), who represent ALL employees in the hairdressing and cosmetology services industry.

The functions of the council are as per the Constitution pertaining to the HCSBC, as lodged with the Registrar at the Department of Labour Relations, in compliance with Section 30 of the LRA. Some of these functions are as follows:

1.     To enforce the Main Collective Agreement (Government Gazette No. 26916, Vol. 472, Regulation 8085, published on 29th Oct 2004, Corrections Notice 27048 of Dec 04 and Amending Agreements thereto, namely RG 27397 (Notice R.241) of 24th Mar 2005 and RG 29096 (Notice R.817) of 11th Aug 2006) (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Main Agreement’) pertaining to the hairdressing and cosmetology services industry (hereinafter referred to as the ‘industry’).

A Main Collective Agreement is an Agreement registered with the DoL in accordance with the provisions of the LRA and is the Main Agreement entered into between the employers’ organisation/s and the trade union/s, who are the parties to the council, in order to regulate the terms and conditions of employment in the industry.

And it should also be noted that ALL employers and employees in the Industry are therefore NOT regulated by the terms and conditions of employment as contained in the BCEA (Basic Conditions of Employment Act No. 75 of 1997), but that they are in fact governed by all the Rules and Regulations and the terms and conditions of employment as contained in the Main Collective Agreement negotiated for the Industry by the above parties to the Council.

2.     To act as mediatior &/or conciliator in the industry in order to prevent and/or resolve any disputes which may arise in the industry, in the manner stated in the Main Agreement.

And it should also be noted that any disputes which may arise in the Industry should be referred DIRECTLY to the Bargaining Council and NOT to the CCMA

3.     To enforce the collective agreements pertaining to the hci Sick Pay Fund and to the Hairdressing and Cosmetology Industry Provident Fund, as entered into between the above employers’ organisations and the trade union, who are the parties to the council, in order to regulate the terms and conditions of membership of these funds.

4.     To administer, according to the Rules, as determined by the parties to the council :
a. the hci Sick Pay Fund, established by the parties to the council, in order to provide sick pay benefits to employees in the industry; and
b.the Hairdressing and Cosmetology Industry Provident Fund, which was established in terms of an industrial agreement concluded by the parties to the council, and published by the Minister of Labour in terms of Section 48 of the Labour Relations Act of 1956, extended by the LRA.

The objective of the Provident Fund is to raise monies by contributions to provide lump sum retirement benefits to members leaving employment on reaching retirement age, or as a result of incapacitation by illness or accident, on retrenchment, or on withdrawal for any other good and sufficient reason, in terms of the Fund Rules.

5.     To act as a mediator during any wage negotiations between the parties to the council and/or any negotiations held by the parties on any revisions which may be required to any of the abovementioned collective agreements.

6.     To collect subscriptions for and on behalf of the parties to the council, namely for EOHCB & AHBEASA (the employers’ organisations) and for UASA (the union), from all of their members in the industry.

7.     The HCSBC (the Council) also negotiated special discounts with certain service providers for ALL of its paid-up Registered Members. And the following discounted services are now also available to ALL registered paid-up council members.
~ Insurance designed specifically for the Industry may be obtained from Salon Sure.
~ Discounted Payroll Services may be obtained from GMS Consulting.
~ Discounted Electrical, Maintenance, Plumbing, etc. may be obtained from Maintenance Man.
~ Discounted photography/magazine exposure can be obtained from Magz. Inc.
~ Discounted First Aid Kits* can be otained from Deon Nel at FMS.

Other services also available to the Industry now are:

~ A recruitment consultancy specifically for our Industry from A Head for Hair Recruitment

~ Guidelines are also available from the Council to members in the Industry on Examples of Employment Contracts, Company Policy & Job Descriptions and Grievance Procedures and Disciplinary Codes (Table of Offences).