Breakthrough! All 87 overdue red seal certificates ready after Solidarity intervention

A total of 87 qualified artisans are celebrating the issuance of their long-awaited red seal certificates after intervention by the Solidarity Trades’ Network.

After the Labour Court initially determined that the 87 outstanding certificates must be issued within 20 court days, with a deadline of 20 August 2026, the process progressed slowly. Solidarity, however, continued to apply pressure to ensure that each artisan concerned received the recognition for which they qualified.

On 6 August, Solidarity expressed its concern about the slow progress at the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). At that time, only 13 of the 87 certificates had been issued, with eight days remaining before the deadline.

No official response or acknowledgement of receipt followed.

Solidarity learned on 21 August that the certificates had indeed been issued. Following a further letter on 25 August, the QCTO confirmed that the certificates had been sent to the state attorney for collection by the National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB).

According to Stef Pretorius, coordinator of the Solidarity Trades’ Network, the eventual issuance of all 87 certificates is a significant victory for the artisans who have been waiting for them for a long time.

Without them, artisans are often unable to apply for qualified artisan positions or claim relevant remuneration.

“This victory belongs to our members who did not give up. A red seal certificate is much more than just a piece of paper. It is the official recognition of years of training, hard work and craftsmanship. These artisans have worked for it and they deserve to have their qualifications in hand,” says Pretorius.

With all the certificates now ready, Solidarity’s attention shifts to the second important part of the court order: a roundtable discussion to address the underlying problems with the red seal process and prevent artisans from experiencing the same problems again in the future.

In terms of the court order, Solidarity must facilitate a roundtable discussion between the 21 respondents before 30 September. The discussion must focus on a sustainable solution to the problems in the red seal process.

The QCTO must then table a turnaround plan resulting from this discussion by 28 October.

“We now have a tangible victory for the 87 artisans, but our work does not stop here.

“We do not want artisans to have to face the same problem again in a few months or a year. The roundtable discussion must be used to fix the system,” says Pretorius.