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.
In our Thursday roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that have appeared since
midday on Wednesday, 26 June 2017.
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Armed guards for Cape Town’s central railway line Cape Times reports that following a spate of robberies and attacks on Metrorail employees and commuters, the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) will use armed security guards on Cape Town’s central line. Metrorail said the move was in response to threats in operating areas, where the emergency services were prevented from attending to life-threatening situations. Metrorail train driver Pieter Botha was shot dead during a robbery at Netreg station last year. Metrorail spokesperson Riana Scott said the parastatal estimated that it would be spending about R800,000 a month on security. However, she stated that the use of armed security guards would not serve as a “sustainable solution”. Scott called on all communities to work with the police and other law- enforcement agencies to report crimes. Read this report by Byron Lukas in full at Cape Times Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Anglo, gold producers set aside substantial funds for lung disease settlement claims Bloomberg News reports that South African mining firms, including Anglo American, are preparing a billion rand settlement with as many as 100,000 former workers who suffer from debilitating and deadly lung diseases caused by exposure to dust from working underground. Anglo has set aside $101m (R1.3bn) in preparation for a potential settlement, while Gold Fields expects to pay about $30m (R388m) to end a class action lawsuit, the companies said in separate statements on Thursday. AngloGold Ashanti, Sibanye Gold and Harmony Gold are among 32 respondents named in the suit, which would be the country’s biggest class action. Richard Spoor, a lawyer representing claimants, indicated: “Significant progress has been made towards a settlement, such that companies are feeling comfortable enough to quantify their liabilities. It’s still a process but I’m fairly optimistic we will be able to conclude something within the course of this year.” A settlement would bring an end to almost a decade-long fight to compensate the hundreds of thousands of mine workers who contracted silicosis. Read this report by Kevin Crowley in full at Fin24 Billions lie unclaimed in miners’ retirement funds BusinessLive reports that some R30bn lies unclaimed from the pension and provident funds of former miners who worked under apartheid but never received their money, according to Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi. At the Smart Investments in Health conference in Johannesburg on Wednesday, Motsoaledi told delegates that the payment mechanisms for mining compensation and pension fund distribution had proved to be inefficient and that efficient systems were needed to standardise processes. Motsoaledi indicated that only 6,500 people had been compensated to the value of R220m so far, with about R88m of that going to foreign nationals. The money is due to 3.5-million workers in Southern Africa whom the health department says it is unable to trace. Some had not left their addresses and could not be found, Motsoaledi indicated. Mines compensation commissioner Dr Barry Kistnasamy said the unclaimed benefits were under a social protection fund. "This problem goes back many years and these are large amounts of money that are due to workers," he said. Read this report by Michelle Gumede in full at BusinessLive With 3,000 jobs at risk, Zwane approves Lonmin’s bid for Anglo’s Pandora stake Mining Weekly reports that Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) Minister Mosebenzi Zwane has given platinum producer Lonmin the go-ahead to acquire Anglo American Platinum’s (Amplats’) 42.5% stake in the Pandora platinum joint venture (JV) operation. This will save the 3,000 jobs that would have been lost had the operation been placed under care and maintenance. Zwane granted consent for the cession of the right in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act. He noted in a statement released Wednesday: “One of our primary considerations when assessing [Lonmin’s] application was how we were best going to prevent retrenchments at the time. We are indeed pleased that we have been able to save 3,000 jobs, particularly in the current global economic climate.” Zwane added that Lonmin had five days to issue the DMR with a plan on how it would address broad-based black economic-empowerment compliance at Pandora, as the DMR “cannot afford a situation where transformation is compromised”. The Minister’s approval of the application comes amidst his proposed moratorium on the granting or renewal of mining and prospecting rights. Read this report in full at Mining Weekly. See too, Zwane helps to save 3,000 mining jobs, at Business Report. And also, Zwane declares DMR “reasonable” after approving Lonmin deal, at Miningmx Thirty-six suspects arrested after raid on illegal mining operations in Roodepoort TimesLive reports that 34 suspected undocumented immigrants were due to appear in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on Thursday after they were arrested during a raid on illegal mining operations. Two others arrested after the raid in Matholeville‚ Johannesburg‚ on Wednesday have been charged with possession of explosives and selling alcohol without a liquor licence. Police spokesperson Colonel Andre Laing said 56 tubes of explosives used for the illegal activities were found in the area. At least 22 buckets of 20 litres containing gold concentrate and another 32 buckets of 25 litres were seized‚ as well as many other items of equipment. City Water cut six illegal water connections from the Jo’burg main pipeline, while four shacks used for the illegal operation were demolished. Laing also said 225 shacks with illegal electrical connections were disconnected from the grid‚ while 1,800kg of cables were confiscated. Read this report by Kgaugelo Masweneng in full at TimesLive. Read too, Amatholesville illegal miners earn up to R20k a week, at The Citizen. And also, Zama zamas will not stop, on page 1 of The New Age of 27 July 2017 Other labour/community posting(s) related to mining
Postings on Mining Charter / Moratorium on Mining Licenses
Nehawu indicates possible end in sight for NHLS strike News24 reports that after a day of successful national protesting by employees, the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) strike could come to an end after the Department of Health brought significant offers to the table. National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) spokesperson Khaya Xaba said that the Department of Health (DOH) had matched a number of their demands, including a salary increase of 7.3%. "We are going to take this and other offers they have made back to the workers and see if they accept it. There are however a number of other issues that still need to be resolved," Xaba indicated, adding that their primary concern was that solid timelines be set to ensure implementation. He urged workers to continue their striking on Thursday. DOH spokesperson Joe Maila called on unions to reconsider their position "as a matter of national interest" and expressed the hope that the parties would be able to find each other. Read this report by Kaveel Singh in full at News24. Read too, NHLS to outsource priority services amid strike, at EWN. And also, NHLS warns laboratory services affected by strike, DA calls for private testing, at TimesLive NHLS requests urgent meeting with unions in attempt to end strike EWN reports that the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) has asked for an urgent meeting with unions to thrash out a deal to end the current strike that commenced on Wednesday. The employer has proposed a timeline around how and when labour-related agreements would be implemented, which is what led to the strike. There has moreover been agreement on a 7.3% salary hike. The NHLS acting CEO Shabir Madhi said they would be meeting with union leaders on Thursday afternoon. He stated: “The timeline for this is really what’s in dispute, both agreements were actually signed previously but there weren't any specific timeline that was stipulated in the previous agreement.” This short report by Mia Lindeque is at EWN SANParks strike sees delay to start of 2018 online booking season Traveller24 reports that SA National Parks (SANParks) has confirmed that holiday bookings for June and July 2018 will now open on 1 August 2017, as opposed to 25 July 2017 as originally planned. The change of date is due to the strike action by some members of staff, according to SANParks head of communications Janine Raftopoulos. On Wednesday, SANParks was still in negotiations to resolve the salary dispute with the unions, with disruptive behaviour reported at certain camps in the Kruger National Park, specifically Orpen, Berg en Dal and Shingwedzi. Raftopoulos stated: "We have seen disruptive behaviour at SANParks Head Office (Groenkloof), Phalaborwa and Orpen gates in the Kruger National Park. Management has requested the union to immediately intervene; failing which, an application for an interdict will be lodged to stop unruly behaviour and seek adherence to the rules by Hospersa (Health & Other Services Personnel Trade Union of SA) members.” According to Raftopoulos, SANParks revised its offer to 6.1% plus 1% pay progression to qualifying employees, which totals 7.1%. Read this report in full at Traveller24. See too, SANParks strike by Hospersa members continues, at News24. And also, SANParks oorweeg interdik teen ‘ontwrigtende’ stakers, at Netwerk24 (limit on access) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Samwu march disrupts Pretoria traffic on Thursday eNCA reports that traffic was disrupted in central Pretoria on Thursday as workers belonging to the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) marched through the city. The workers were accusing the City of Tshwane of changing their conditions of service on a daily basis without consultation. They also claimed that the city was exposing them to unsafe working conditions. The march started in Marabastad and was set to proceed to Tshwane House where workers were expected to hand over a memorandum of demands. Tshwane Metro Police spokesperson Isaac Mahamba advised motorists to use alternative routes. Read this report in full at eNCA. Read Samwu’s press statement containing its demands at Samwu online Other internet posting(s) in this news category
SA's average real take-home pay increase highest in 15 months Fin24 reports that seasonally adjusted real take home pay of South Africans averaged R13,894 in June 2017, slightly higher than May’s average of R13,802. This was shown by the latest BankservAfrica Economic Transaction Index (BETI) released on Wednesday. South Africans’ real take-home pay increased by 1.3% in June - the highest increase in 15 months. This was the fourth consecutive month it increased. The BankservAfrica Disposable Salary Index (BDSI) indicated that slower inflation increases and faster nominal wage growth helped formal sector wage earners gain higher real increases. As such, South African formal sector workers paid via the South African payments system are better off than a year ago. Economist Mike Schüssler commented that disposable salary increases in nominal terms have not changed that much, but in real terms they are starting to change as inflation is coming down. In his view, that is one of the reasons for better retail sales, although this shift has not been enough yet to get consumers to spend on again big ticket items like cars, televisions and property. Read this report by Carin Smith in full at Fin24. Read too, Your take-home salary increased over the last four months, at The Citizen. And also, This is the average take-home pay in South Africa right now, at BusinessTech Other internet posting(s) in this news category
See our listing of links to labour articles published on the internet on Wednesday, 26 July 2017 at SA Labour News
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Get South African labour news reports at SA Labour News