Chairman’s pen March 2019

NEWSLETTER Dear colleagues

We have reached the last month of the first quarter of 2019. I wil refrain from expanding on “how time flies”, but I am astonished by the rapid progress of the year.

Reputation

Your reputation is the general belief or opinion that people have about you. Reputation comes from the Latin word “reputationem” which means “consideration”. It is how people consider or label you. It takes years to build a good reputation and a few moments to ruin it. You are re-membered by your reputation. Ten basic guidelines to improve a reputation are (source YEC):

1. Do what you say you will do.

2. Go out of your way to help others reach their goals.

3. Make other people look good.

4. Go a step beyond what is expected.

5. Look the part.

6. Consider your body language.

7. Be consistent.

8. Act with integrity.

9. Get engaged with the community.

10. Be likable.

A business builds its reputation in the same way. Painstakingly over many years. A good reputa-tion is essential to the survival of a business and also gives a competitive advantage. A business with a good reputation is considered reliable, dependable and trustworthy. It also adds to the growth of the business.

A large part of the reputation of IMQAS is the total of all our individual reputations added to-gether. This reflects how we are seen by all the stakeholders: abattoirs, VPH, DAFF and many more. Every action that we take, every duty that we perform, every interaction that we have, has an impact on the reputation of IMQAS.

Let us strive to only add to our reputation and improve it even further. It is one of the key re-sponsibilities of being an employee. Together we can build the reputation of IMQAS and take it to even higher levels.

May you have a Blessed month of March.

Gerrie Oberholzer

training

The Meat Safety Scheme what you need to know:

The Scheme serves as the policy and procedural manual for the assignment of service providers to provide independent meat inspection services

The objectives of the scheme include:

I. To ensure the provision of meat inspection service is independent at all abattoirs

II. Other facilities, where deemed necessary by the NEO. i.e. export, import approved cutting plants, processing plant and cold stores

III. To set procedure for the assignment of meat inspection personnel and service providers

IV. To set standards for the operations of meat inspection assignees at abattoirs and other facilities

The scheme is compulsory and applies to all abattoirs in Republic of South Africa. Applies to all animals listed under Schedule 1 of the Meat Safety Act, 2000 ( Act No. 40 of

2000) There are 11 Assignees All meat inspection personnel must be registered Meat inspection personnel must exercise their duties at the abattoir without und undue

pressure and influence Meat inspection services provide by the assignee at the abattoir include but are not limited

to Ante-mortem inspection, Primary Meat Inspection, Inspection of Meat Products, Sec-ondary meat Inspection, Approval of products for dispatch, Implementation and r verifica-tion of the food safety system, Sampling of meat, surfaces, water and any other relevant material/object for monitoring of potential hazards, monitoring disposal of condemned ma-terial, Authorising the removal of condemned material and reporting to the PEO

My duties at the abattoir

1. Decision making on fitness of animals for slaughter during ante- mortem inspections 2. Decision making on carcasses and offal – Pass, condemn, detain 3. Decision making on commencement of slaughtering. Slaughter may only start with the

consent of the meat inspection personnel (not abattoir-appointed meat inspection personnel where applicable)

4. Suspending the slaughter operation if non-compliances warrant such and issuing Instruc-tions.

5. Controlling the slaughter line speed 6. Sampling of products and facilities 7. Preparing and submitting official reports and statistics and may be needed by the NEO/

PEO

HR/PAYROLL

IMQAS HEAD OFFICE ALICIA MEYER (Admin & Office Administrator) Abattoir contracts/all general

abattoir queries/correspondence/accommodation/IOD’s, Quotations.

SANDRA JORDAAN (Snr. Payroll/HR Administrator) - All salary/HR/provident fund/ disciplinary action & enquiries/ leave and attendance register

MAXWELL TSHUMA/LAURANE MOYO- (Training officials) - All training related queries

ELIZE WEBB /SUZETTE GROBLER (Finance) - All finance queries All changes of personal details need to be given in writing. Document can be mailed or faxed to:

payroll@imqas.co.za / info@imqas.co.za or 012 348 5117

What does absenteeism mean?

Apart from not being at work, absenteeism also means:

Arriving late (it is still absence as long as the employee is not at work) Leaving early Unauthorized breaks Extended breaks (toilet, lunch, tea, etc.) Feigned illness Other unexplained absences from the work station or from the premises Absent without permission for one to two shift or one to two days It is the employee’s duty to commence and end duties at the times required by the employer. When employees do not follow the rules, employers have the right to act.

Desertion/ Awol A deserter/ Awol is an employee who is absent from work for more than 5 days, without noti-fying the employer of the reason for the absence. It is the employee’s duty to notify the em-ployer that he/she is going to be absent from the work place. It is also the employee’s duty to notify the employer of a change of contact telephone numbers and address.

The employer must attempt to contact the employee and have proof of these attempts – an SMS / WhatsApp or a letter sent to the employee’s last known address.

After the initial attempts to contact the employee, disciplinary measures can be taken. The employer must send a notice of Desertion/Awol and should the employee not respond within 24 hours a notice of disciplinary hearing to all last known contact details of the employee. A hearing must be held and may proceed in absentia, after which the employee may then be dismissed.

No medical certificate – no pay In terms of the Basic Condition of Employment Act (BCEA) an employer is not required to pay an employee if the employee has been absent from work for more than two consecutive days OR on more than one occasion during an eight-week period and does not produce a medical certificate on request of the employer, stating that the employee was unable to work for the duration of the employee’s absence on account of his/her sickness or injury. By: Sandra Jordaan

IMQAS details INTERNATIONAL MEAT QUALITY ASSURANCE SERVICES PTY (LTD)

POSTAL ADDRESS PHYSICAL ADDRESS

PO BOX 35400 318 THE HILLSIDE

MENLO PARK THE HILLSIDE STREET

0102 1ST FLOOR, LYNNWOOD, PRETORIA

CONTACT DETAILS

TEL: 012 348 5115/6 FAX: 012 348 5117

E-MAIL: info@imqas.co.za / pa@imqas.co.za WEBSITE: www.imqas.co.za

MR D HARTLEY 02/03 ROELCOR MALMESBURY

MS N JIYA 03/03 JACOBSDAL

MS N MTSHALI 04/03 PHILLIPPHOLIS

MR J FORTUIN 09/03 TOMIS

MR S TSHABALALA 09/03 NEW STYLE PORK

MS N MXOLI 13/03 ANCA

MR A WILLIAMS 14/03 PALMIET FONTEIN

MR V DLULANE 15/03 DEVON

MR E DYANTI 15/03 OVK

MR L SIMWINDE 17/03 BEEF MASTER

MS S MPONDO 21/03 KLEIN KAROO

MS S JORDAAN 22/03 HEAD OFFICE

MR F SKIPPERS 23/03 GROENLAND

MR O MALATJI 26/03 LANGBERG