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.
You can be fired for going to work when you’re ill, putting colleagues at risk
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IOL Business writes that employees who deliberately and recklessly place their colleagues at risk of health hazards by going into work when they are ill, can be charged with misconduct and fired.
Southern Sun temporarily closes Rosebank hotel after hailstorm led to roof collapse; no injuries reported
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Moneyweb reports that the Southern Sun Hotel in Rosebank, Johannesburg, has been temporarily closed to assess the extent of the damage caused by a severe hailstorm that gripped parts of the city on Monday night.
Coal miners who contracted work-related diseases take on Exxaro in latest class action
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BL Premium reports that coal producer Exxaro is the latest company to face a class action for allegedly failing to implement the necessary safety measures to protect coal miners from contracting illness linked to their work conditions.
Drop of 90% in police reservists 'devastating' to high crime levels
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News24 reports that despite budgeting R5.7 billion annually to recruit an additional 30,000 officers by 2026, the SA Police Service (SAPS) has cut 90% of its police reservists in the past decade.
Nxesi promises further public consultation on employment equity regulations
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BL Premium reports that Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) Minister Thulas Nxesi gave an assurance on Wednesday the revised draft employment equity regulations under the Employment Equity Amendment Act would be released for a second round of public comments.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 16 November 2023
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Late severance payments stressed us too, Independent Newspapers tells axed staff
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Fin24 reports that Independent Newspapers has apologised to more than 100 retrenched staff for not paying their severance packages on time.
Numsa protests against decision to clear a company manager of sexual harassment charges
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City Press reports that members of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) gathered outside the Sylvania Metals offices in Constantia Park, Johannesburg, on Tuesday to protest the company's handling of a sexual harassment case.
Unemployment rate decreased slightly in third quarter to 31.9%
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The Citizen reports that the unemployment rate decreased slightly by 0.7% to 31.9% in the third quarter from 32.6% in the second quarter.
Morning roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 15 November 2023
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In our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
NUM agrees to end closed shop agreement at Gold One
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BL Premium reports that Gold One is set to resume production on Wednesday after a labour turf battle hampered operations for nearly a month at its East Rand mine.
Morning roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 14 November 2023
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In our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
PGM miners tighten their belts, as lower prices, higher costs batter sector
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Business Times reports that some platinum group metals (PGM) producers are freezing recruitments for non-essential jobs and restructuring loss-making operations as they grapple with weaker metal prices, inflation, rising input costs and energy supply constraints.
EMS crews report being beaten, shot and robbed in SA’s red zones
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News24 reports that stonings, shootings and hijackings are just some of the dangers emergency medical services (EMS) personnel face when entering SA’s red zones – areas considered so dangerous that the personnel are not allowed to enter without a police escort to ensure their safety.
West Rand mineworker arrested after allegedly stabbing colleague to death, taking selfie with body
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News24 reports that a 43-year-old mineworker has been arrested is and is due to appear in court in connection with the fatal stabbing of a colleague on Thursday.
Gun-wielding suspects in school uniform rob teachers at KZN school
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Sunday Tribune reports that teachers at a high school in the Pinetown district invigilating exams on Friday were uneasy and afraid after gun-wielding robbers dressed as pupils held up staff the previous day.
Roundup on Monday, 13 November 2023 of weekend labour reports
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In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 10 November 2023.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 10 November 2023
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In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Transnet considers use of private mechanics to solve Cape Town port crisis
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BL Premium reports that Transnet is considering opening the door to companies to second mechanics at the dysfunctional Port of Cape Town.
SIU blocks pension fund payouts of two Transnet executives implicated in R33m breathalyser straw tender
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BusinessLive reports that two former Transnet executives embroiled in a R33m tender for the procurement of straw breathalysers have been prevented from withdrawing their respective pension fund benefits worth R8.9m.
Internal school exams in KZN under threat as Sadtu embarks on protest action
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News24 reports that a protest by the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is threatening the final examinations for some pupils in the province.
Tshwane stinks as Samwu strike continues
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The Citizen reports that the impact of the strike by City of Tshwane workers affiliated to the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) is far from over.
Impala Platinum starts voluntary job cuts at platinum mines
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Reuters reports that Impala Platinum is offering voluntary job cuts to workers at platinum mining shafts in SA in a bid to cut costs as prices for the metal fall.
National Treasury questions feasibility of proposed maternity support grant
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BusinessLive reports that the National Treasury has expressed doubt about the feasibility of the proposal put forward by the SA Law Reform Commission advising the government to introduce a maternity support grant for poor pregnant women and to extend the benefits of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to self-employed workers.
Independent Newspapers retrenches 128, delays payment of severance packages
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News24 reports that Independent Newspapers, the publisher of The Cape Times, The Star, Isolezwe and The Mercury, has retrenched 128 employees to cut its wage bill.
Floyd Brink is still Johannesburg's city manager – for now, pending leave to appeal judgment
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News24 reports that Floyd Brink has been thrown a lifeline by the City of Johannesburg, which filed an application for leave to appeal a court finding that his appointment as city manager was unconstitutional, unlawful and invalid.
Pay negotiations begin again between City of Tshwane and unions
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TimesLIVE reports that the administration of the Tshwane metro municipality and its municipal workers are back at the negotiating table in yet another effort to resolve their pay dispute and labour unrest.
Employment and labour minister Thulas Nxesi rubbishes R500m bribe claim
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The Star reports that Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) Minister Thulas Nxesi has dismissed claims that he was one of three ministers who solicited a bribe of R500 million.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 9 November 2023
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Retirement age comes under legal lens at ConCourt
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Pretoria News reports that the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) is to cast a fresh eye on the issue of whether it is fair to fire employees working beyond their retirement age.