The Regulatory Efficiency of the CCMA: A Statistical Analysis of the CCMA’s CMS Database

The study involves a statistical analysis of the case management system (CMS) database of the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) for the financial years 2001/2, 2003/4 and 2004/5. It focuses on statistical indicators that shed light on the administrative efficiency of the CCMA and the outcome of proceedings at the CCMA as a basis for assessing its regulatory efficiency in respect of resolving unfair dismissals and unfair labour practices. The study concludes that there are marked differences in patterns of dispute resolution and the outcome of disputes in the CCMA’s different provincial regions. These regional variations are significantly greater than those between different economic sectors. A closer scrutiny of these differences contributed to an improved understanding of the successes and failures of the CCMA. The CMS database on which the study is based is designed for case management purposes and this orientation is reflected in the information contained in the database. Accordingly, key information required for assessing efficiency of the CCMA and to inform policy decisions is not contained in the CMS database and consideration should be given to expanding the database for these purposes.