Today's Labour News
This news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.
Union, mines clash over continued operations during lockdown
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The Citizen reports that mining houses and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) are at loggerheads over concerns expressed by the union about some mining companies continuing their operations, despite the declaration of a 21-day lockdown as a measure to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Sadtu claims that KZN teacher got virus at hospital
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The Citizen reports that the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) is adamant that a KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) schoolteacher who succumbed to Covid-19 was infected with the disease at a local hospital.
Western Cape premier turns to cops to curb attacks on paramedics in Western Cape
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News24 reports that with paramedics having again come under attack, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has held high-level talks with the police.
Public servants’ wage increases on ice as unions move to declare dispute
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Fin24 reports that an increase in the wages of public servants, which was originally due to kick in on 1 April in terms of a wage agreement reached in 2018, is still on ice.
Saftu’s Zwelinzima Vavi tests positive for Covid-19
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News24 reports that SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has tested positive for Covid-19. He told eNCA during an interview on Thursday that he had no idea how he was exposed to the novel coronavirus.
KZN health-care workers hardest hit by shortages of personal protective gear
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The Mercury reports that health-care workers at the forefront of the Covid-19 pandemic in public hospitals are concerned about their health and safety, as they are expected to work without masks and protective gear.
SABC evacuates parts of TV centre in Auckland Park in effort to contain spread of Covid-19
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HeraldLive reports that the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has evacuated several parts of its TV centre building in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Duduza Clinic in Ekurhuleni closed after nurse tests positive for Covid-19
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TimesLIVE reports that the City of Ekurhuleni closed the Duduza Clinic indefinitely on Wednesday after a nurse tested positive for the coronavirus.
‘Unions risk rendering themselves irrelevant if they remain locked in ideological fortresses’
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Natasha Marrian writes that no-one can predict what our country will look like on the other side of the present health and economic crises.
Contract waste workers in Ekurhuleni defy lockdown to protest over unpaid wages
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The Citizen reports that 150 waste removal workers employed by a waste removal contractor appointed by the City of Ekurhuleni this week defied lockdown regulations by staging a protest in Palm Ridge over unpaid wages.
Nxesi adds confusion to issue of whether employers can force employees to take annual leave during lockdown
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BL Premium writes that confusion abounds on the rights and obligations of employees and employers during the economic shutdown and at a televised briefing on Tuesday labour minister Thulas Nxesi did a good job of adding to the confusion.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 1 April 2020
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In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Wednesday, 1 April 2020.
Fraudulent essential-service permits revoked
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The Citizen reports that the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) has cancelled fraudulent certificates allowing companies to trade as essential services during the 21-day national lockdown.
New virus, old wounds, as frontline Covid-19 workers in Gauteng demand better pay
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News24 reports that community health workers could soon be on the front lines of the fight against the coronavirus without the masks and other protective gear they need to stay healthy, says the secretary of the Gauteng Community Health Care Forum Tshepo Matoko.
DA calls for Senzo Mchunu to be fired as DPSA minister if he fails to cut the public wage bill
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The Citizen reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire the minister for public service and administration, Senzo Mchunu, if he fails to cut the public wage bill by at least R37.8 billion in the 2020/21 financial year.
Tragic job losses of over 100,000 on the cards for Edcon
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Moneyweb writes that the prospect of more than 100,000 people losing their jobs was grimly tagged by a conference call between Edcon CEO Grant Pattison and suppliers just hours before SA entered its coronavirus lockdown.
New lockdown rules let taxis carry usual number of passengers, provided they wear masks
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SowetanLive reports that Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has amended regulations governing public transport during the lockdown to extend taxi operating hours and allow them to carry up to 100% of their passenger capacity — provided passengers wear masks.
UIF benefits for workers affected by Covid-19 to be paid out through bargaining councils and firms during lockdown
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BusinessLive reports that the government is putting measures in place for payment of unemployment insurance benefits to workers affected by Covid-19 through their companies and bargaining councils.
Paul Hanratty to take the helm at Sanlam during a critical time for SA
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BusinessLive reports that Sanlam, Africa’s biggest life insurer, has appointed a former executive from its rival Old Mutual as its new CEO, replacing the retiring Ian Kirk.
Ga-Rankuwa health fieldworkers call for protective gear against Covid-19
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Pretoria News reports that health fieldworkers looking after the frail and elderly residents of Ga-Rankuwa, north of Pretoria, have pleaded with the government to supply them with protective gear to help keep them safe while working in the community.
Nehawu slams government over non-payment on Wednesday of salary increases
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Independent News reports that the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has slammed the government for blaming the Covid-19 pandemic and the country’s economic woes for its plans not to increase the salaries of its 1.3 million employees from Wednesday.
Unions oppose business rescue practitioners’ bid to liquidate SA Express
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Business Report writes that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the SA Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) are at loggerheads with the government over the application by business rescue practitioners (BRPs) to liquidate SA Express.
SAA and unions to resume talks over retrenchments
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Moneyweb reports that the SA Airways (SAA) business rescue practitioners (BRPs) and labour are set to resume consultations on retrenchments on Wednesday.
Formal sector jobs grew marginally at end of 2019, but that was before Covid-19
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BusinessLive reports that Stats SA data revealed on Tuesday that annual growth in formal sector jobs rose marginally in the final quarter of 2019, driven by growth in community services, trade and business services.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 31 March 2020
- Details
In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Tuesday, 31 March 2020.
Certain office bearers and members of judiciary get backdated salary hikes
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The Star reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has published in the government gazette a determination of salaries and allowances for certain categories of public servants and some members of the judiciary.
Workforce Holdings says national minimum wage hike has hit its clients
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BusinessLive reports that labour services group Workforce Holding said on Tuesday that the recent increase in the national minimum wage (NMW) was having an effect on some of its clients.
Cosatu’s unions declare dispute over public sector salary increases due on 1 April
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BusinessLive reports that Cosatu’s public sector unions have declared a wage dispute with the government over salary increases due in April, thereby leading the way to possible court action.
Netcare warns 21-day lockdown might not be long enough to achieve intended goal
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BusinessLive reports that private hospital group Netcare says the three-week lockdown initiated by President Cyril Ramaphosa might not be long enough to achieve the government’s aim of slowing the spread of Covid-19 to prevent the health system from being overwhelmed.
Coca-Cola wins round one in battle against SAB over BEE benefit payouts to former employees
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BL Premium reports that Coca-Cola Beverages SA (CCBSA) has won its urgent application relating to the payout by SABMiller of BEE benefits to its former employees.