Privacy Policy

The Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council (MEIBC) is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is handled in a safe and responsible manner. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you interact with our website, services, or contact us.

By using our website or services, you consent to the collection and use of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy.

Under POPIA, we process your personal information based on the following legal grounds:

• Consent: When you voluntarily submit the contact form or opt-in to our newsletter
• Legitimate Interest: For website analytics and security purposes
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws and regulations
• Performance of Public Task: In our role as a statutory bargaining council

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to third parties without your consent, except in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: We may share information with trusted service providers who assist us in operating our website and providing services (e.g., email service providers, hosting services)
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or government regulations
• Protection of Rights: To protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of others
• Business Transfers: In connection with any merger, sale, or transfer of company assets

All third-party service providers are required to maintain appropriate security measures and use your information only for the purposes specified.

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption for data transmission
• Access controls and authentication mechanisms
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Staff training on data protection and privacy
• Secure data storage and backup procedures

However, please note that no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected or as required by law:

• Contact Form Data: Retained for 3 years from the date of submission for customer service and follow-up purposes
• Newsletter Subscriptions: Retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion
• Website Analytics: Typically retained for 24 months
• Legal Requirements: Some information may be retained longer to comply with legal obligations

Under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), you have the following rights:

• Right to Access: Request access to your personal information we hold
• Right to Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information in certain circumstances
• Right to Object: Object to the processing of your personal information
• Right to Data Portability: Request transfer of your information to another service provider
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for newsletter subscriptions at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Information Officer using the contact details provided below.

If you have subscribed to our newsletter, you can unsubscribe at any time by:

• Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any newsletter email
• Contacting us directly using the contact information below
• Sending an email to info@meibc.co.za with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line

Please note that even after unsubscribing from marketing communications, we may still contact you regarding your specific inquiries or for administrative purposes.

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external websites linked from our site.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. When we make changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Post the revised policy on our website
• Notify subscribers via email if changes are significant

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.