In our Wednesday roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that have appeared since
midday on Tuesday, 25 April 2017.
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Labour Department to celebrate World Day for Safety and Health at Work on Friday Modern working environments pose greater risks to workers, and to alert workers to such dangers, the Department of Labour will be hosting a campaign to celebrate the World Day for Safety and Health at Work. The event will be celebrated at the Alberton Municipality offices in Ekurhuleni on Friday, 28 April. The day aims to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases in the workplace. Its celebration ties in with the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO’s) campaign for the 2017 World Day for Safety and Health at Work, which focuses on the need for countries to improve their capacity to collect and use reliable occupational safety and health (OSH) data. The day will be celebrated under theme, ‘Optimise the collection and use of occupational safety and health (OSH) data’. The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is an annual international campaign to promote safe, healthy and decent work which has been observed by the ILO since 2003. Read this report in full at SA Govt News Agency
Explosion at West Rand cooking oil factory leaves one dead Randfontein Herald reports that one man died and three others were injured following an explosion at a cooking oil factory on Main Reef Road in Robinson, on the West Rand. Benny Mohlabeng, Randfontein Fire Department chief, confirmed that one of the plants had exploded and added: “At this stage, we cannot conclude what exactly led the plant to explode, as we are still investigating this tragic incident. Unfortunately, a young man passed away, and three other victims were transported to hospital to be treated for their injuries.” The deceased was apparently an operator at the company. A short report by Maritza van Zyl is at The Citizen Major changes planned for Department of Labour’s Compensation Fund BusinessLive reports that far-reaching changes are in the pipeline for the Compensation Fund, which will eventually incorporate the Compensation Commission for Occupational Diseases that is currently the under the Department of Health. The Compensation Fund, which falls under the Department of Labour, is being restructured and is attempting to wipe out its backlog of 60,000 cases. Labour Minister Mildred said at a press briefing on Tuesday that the deputy ministers of labour, health and mineral resources were working on a plan for the integration of the two funds. The Compensation Fund has been plagued by problems of poor administration, archaic computer systems and a mountain of unpaid claims that have left workers destitute and hospital bills unpaid. According to labour director-general Thobile Lamati, the Compensation Fund was "progressing well" and was able to pay claims. The plan is to restructure the fund’s business into three divisions: compensation benefits and pensions; medical services; and disability and rehabilitation. No staff lay-offs are envisaged. Read this report by Linda Ensor in full at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Impala Platinum could cut over 1,000 jobs at Marula mine Bloomberg writes that protests at Impala Platinum’s Marula mine on the eastern limb of the Bushveld Complex and low metal prices have led the platinum producer to start a reorganisation process that could lead to more than 1,000 job losses. The DMR and relevant labour unions have been contacted and all parties will work together to minimise the impact of the plan on employment, the company said in a statement on Wednesday. Impala expects the negotiation process to be completed by the end of June. Marula employs almost 4,400 workers and contractors. The protest action that has led to the reorganisation is related to community dissatisfaction with the way its 50% interest in the Makgomo Chrome project is being managed. Chrome is a waste product of platinum. Marula’s production was also affected by the closing of a hybrid mining section at one of the shafts. Read this report by John Bowker in full at Business Report. Read too, Job losses loom at troubled Marula, says Implats, at Mining Weekly. Read Implats’ press statement at Sharenet (scroll down to Marula) Shareholders says yes to Anglo American’s new executive pay policy BusinessLive reports that Anglo American avoided a second public relations disaster as 93% of its shareholders voted in favour of the group’s amended remuneration policy at Tuesday’s annual general meeting. At the AGM in 2016, a record 41% of shareholders voted against the policy. Shareholders were particularly angry about the effect of the valuable long-term incentive plan. CEO Mark Cutifani promised to listen to shareholders’ concerns and the board undertook to overhaul the remuneration policy. The revised policy now reduces the scope for executives to score huge packages on the back of surging commodity prices or favourable exchange rate movements. Although the voting results indicated shareholders were generally happier this year, those who attended witnessed a number of stakeholders from across the globe describing a less happy picture. Shareholder activist Theo Botha attended to find out why the group did not provide more information on fatalities, which after years of decline had increased in 2016. Members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) asked for details about possible payouts from the silicosis fund. Read this report by Ann Crotty in full at BusinessLive Other general internet posting(s) on mining
Numsa holds bargaining conference in preparation for July’s wage talks City Press reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) held a National Bargaining Conference on Monday and Tuesday, in preparation for the wage negotiations in the steel and engineering sectors, due for later this year. More than 200 delegates, representing all nine provinces, as well as those who work directly with employers in the sector, are involved in the talks. Phakamile Hlubi, Numsa’s acting national spokesperson, said: “There are a lot of challenges facing this sector. There’s been massive job losses, particularly as a result of the influence from Chinese companies where the government allows these companies to bring in cheap skill imports. It’s killed businesses and created a huge crisis.” Conference participants heard from major stakeholders in addition to receiving a presentation from department of trade and industry representatives. The second day of the conference focused specifically on strategy and on crafting a list of demands ahead of negotiations. While there is no specific date set for the start of negotiations, talks are expected to begin in July. Read this report by Michelle Bao in full at City Press With strike looming, Prasa wants to meet unions over wage dispute ANA reports that the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) on Tuesday requested to meet with labour unions after they had asked the Prasa board to review its mandate for wage increases. The United National Transport Union (Untu) reported that Prasa’s management requested the urgent meeting on Wednesday and commented that it hoped Prasa would make an “acceptable salary offer” to employees. Untu general secretary Steve Harris said: “Untu is a responsible trade union that does not take any form of industrial action lightly. However, our members deserve more than the seven percent salary increase the employer is offering right now.” Untu declared a dispute over wages in February and the CCMA issued a certificate of non-resolution after it could not resolve the dispute. With the certificate in hand, unions can give Prasa 48-hours’ notice of intention to embark on a protected national strike. Read this report in full at eNCA Rhodes University workers hand over memo on wages to management ANA reports that the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) and the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) on Tuesday handed over a memorandum to the top management of Rhodes University regarding wage negotiations. This followed a notice the unions gave to the university of their intention to embark on protected industrial action over wages. Rhodes vice-chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela said in a statement: “We accept that an increase of five percent is a bitter pill to swallow in the face of biting inflation. We, however, continue to engage in good faith and with complete transparency. We hope to be able to find a workable solution in the shortest time possible.” The university said it expected the negotiations between management and the unions to resume on Tuesday afternoon or as soon as possible, and that an agreement would be reached at the earliest for the interest of the University, its students and staff. The academic programme has continued as planned. Read this report in full at The Citizen
SAA cabin crew embark on a strike on Wednesday over meal allowance ANA reports that cabin crew at South African Airways (SAA) downed tools on Wednesday, demanding a R2,200 meal allowance for international flights. Some 1,300 – about 85% of the total number – are believed to have gone on strike. They claim that the allowance has not been reviewed for six years. The industrial action could result in widespread disruption of both international and domestic flights as safety requirements demand that cabin crew be present on any flight in case of an emergency. SAA operates about 145 international and domestic flights daily. SA Cabin Crew Association deputy president Christopher Shabangu said crew had a litany of grievances about conditions of service at SAA and the allowance was just one example of a long-standing issue. Cabin crew were also concerned about the slow pace at which the airline dealt with concerns over conditions of service, if it tackled them at all. Based on reports at eNCA and BusinessLive SAA approaches labour court to interdict cabin crew strike EWN reports that South African Airways (SAA) has approached the labour court in an attempt to urgently interdict the cabin crew strike which has affected its services. As at Wednesday morning, union leaders were at the court in Braamfontein opposing the application. According to the SA Cabin Crew Association (Sacca), its industrial action is legal and SAA has no grounds to stop it. Employees affiliated to the union are demanding a $170 a day meal allowance when working overseas. They currently receive $131, which they say has not been increased in the last six years. The airline has indicated that for now, four domestic flights have been cancelled and two have been delayed. It says it’s putting contingency plans in place in order to minimise the impact on operations. According to SAA’s Tladi Tladi international flights have at this stage not been affected. Read this report in full at EWN. See too, SAA passengers advised to check their flights due to strike, at The Citizen SAA granted interim interdict against striking cabin crew News24 reports that the Johannesburg Labour Court on Wednesday granted SA Airways (SAA) an interim interdict against striking members of the SA Cabin Crew Association (Sacca). Adv. Michael van As, for SAA, appeared briefly before the court on Wednesday, but Sacca failed to meet a deadline of 13:00 to challenge the interdict application. The matter was then postponed until 23 June for final arguments. SAA applied for an order to have its striking cabin crew staff return to work immediately and in its affidavit claimed that the strike on Wednesday was unprotected. Sacca asked the court for a delay to file its own court papers to challenge the SAA application, but it failed to meet this deadline. The airline received notification of intent to strike on Tuesday. Read this report by Lizeka Tandwa in full at News24. See too, Court grants SAA interim interdict against striking cabin crew staff, at TimesLive SAA cabin crew strike sees 32 flights cancelled on Wednesday EWN reports that the strike by South African Airways (SAA) cabin crew has seen the airline cancel 32 flights so far on Wednesday. The airline confirmed that 28 domestic flights, three regional flights and one international flight have been cancelled. Employees affiliated to the South African Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) are demanding an increase in their daily meal allowance when travelling overseas. Talks between SAA management and the union reached a deadlock on Tuesday night. Meanwhile travellers affected by the strike have been left confused, frustrated and angry while making alternative plans after several flights have been cancelled due to the demonstration. They have criticised the airline for failing to adequately communicate with customers. SAA has filed an urgent application in the labour court seeking an interdict to stop the strike. Read this report by Mia Lindeque in full at EWN. See too, Passengers frustrated by cancelled SAA flights, at TimesLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Reserve Bank can't do much about unemployment‚ says governor TimesLive reports that South African Reserve Bank (SARB) governor Lesetja Kganyago said on Tuesday that one of the main contributing factors to SA’s high unemployment rate was that many people did not live close enough to where job opportunities are. Apart from that, the central bank was not well placed to solve the country’s “terrible unemployment problem”‚ which has lasted at least for two decades, with its monetary policy. Kganyago was speaking at a lecture on monetary policy at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where he also addressed whether the Reserve Bank should aim to reduce the unemployment rate‚ currently at 26.5%. He indicated that one of the tactics was to keep inflation down‚ but it was difficult for the Reserve Bank to specifically target unemployment. “Looser monetary policies will not get our people Bachelor of Science degrees or move their residences close to where the job opportunities are. Nor will lower interest rates reform our labour markets‚” Kganyago indicated. Read this report by Bongani Mthethwa in full at TimesLive
Virgin Active admits to not providing transport for staff who work late at night EWN reports that Virgin Active SA spokesperson Les Aupiais has confirmed that the company does not provide transport for staff who knock off at its gyms late in the evening. This was in response to a caller on Talk Radio 702 who raised her concern about workers at Virgin Active in Midrand at Vodaworld who left work after 9pm but who did not have transport. Mpho Leseka said gym staff have to walk about three kilometres to the nearest taxi rank after work. Aupiais commented: "If we talk about a solution to late night transport then it [must] come from staff. We encourage them to come up with solutions. We can’t impose something that might not work." He added: “It's one of the most complex and challenging issues. We have 140 clubs around the country. Most of them are in high traffic areas.” Aupiais also indicated that the company has never received any reports from staff who have been mugged and sexually abused on their way home. Read this report by Refilwe Pitjeng at EWN. See too, Concern that Virgin Active putting lives of late-night shift workers at risk, at Talk Radio 702
EFF dismisses report of its bank account having been frozen over labour dispute The Citizen reports that Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, spokesperson for the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has dismissed a report by The Sowetan newspaper that the party’s bank account had been frozen by the Labour Court after the party unfairly dismissed a former researcher in the Limpopo legislature. Ndlozi took to Twitter on Monday to rubbish the report, saying the account “is not and has never been frozen. The order was challenged and never went into any function. We can pay anyone from that account [sic]”. Advocate Fenya Maabane apparently challenged his dismissal by the EFF at the CCMA, which ruled that his removal was unfair “both procedurally and substantively”. The CCMA ordered that Maabane be paid a salary equivalent to seven months’ pay, amounting to more than R400,000. The Sowetan reported that, following several legal attempts to effect payment of the money, the EFF’s FNB bank account in Braamfontein was attached on 21 February. Read this report in full at The Citizen
Ntlemeza seeks interdict against Mbalula so as to return to job as Hawks head BusinessLive reports that the lawyers for former Hawks head Berning Ntlemeza say they will be heading to the High Court in Pretoria seeking an urgent interdict preventing Police Minister Fikile Mbalula from interfering with Ntlemeza’s right to return to work. They insist Ntlemeza is entitled to return to work until his appeal against the high court order that his appointment as Hawks head is invalid has been heard. Mbalula has since appointed an acting Hawks head, Ntlemeza’s deputy Lt-Gen Yolisa Matakata after the high court dismissed Ntlemeza’s application for leave to appeal against its earlier ruling. On Monday, Mbalula advised the press that Ntlemeza had arrived at the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) in the morning and had demanded that he be given the use of a state vehicle, which has since been returned. The minister said if Ntlemeza again entered the Hawks’ head office in Pretoria he would be arrested. But on Monday night, Adv. Comfort Ngidi, Ntlemeza’s lawyer, said they had informed Mbalula he should not interfere with their client if he reported for duty and that they would be taking the matter up in court on Tuesday. Read this report by Nce Mkhize in full at BusinessLive. See too, Defiant Ntlemeza to take on Mbalula in court, at Cape Times. And also, Former Hawks boss Ntlemeza returns state vehicle, at The Citizen Nkandla disciplinary hearing postponed due to employee ill health News24 reports that the disciplinary hearing of one of the 10 public works employees accused of wrongdoing in the Nkandla saga was postponed in Durban on Tuesday. Sibusiso Chonco and the 9 other officials are accused of acting unlawfully during the R246m upgrade made to President Jacob Zuma's Nkandla homestead. On Tuesday, Chonco made an appearance at his hearing after not having been present for medical reasons on Monday. He kept his head down and let his lawyer, Adrian Moodley, do the talking. Moodley lamented the need for a postponement, saying Chonco was not unwilling, but unable to participate in proceedings due to poor health. Khuzwayo observed that Chonco appeared unable to participate in proceedings and granted the application for a postponement. His hearing was set down from July 4 to 6. Read this report by Kaveel Singh in full at News24
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