Today's Labour News

TOP STORY – CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

Nehawu’s court action against health department over PPE to be heard by Labour Court on Tuesday

The Star reports that health-care workers in the public sector in the front line of the coronavirus battle are beginning to down tools.  This as the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) instituted legal action against Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize.  The case was scheduled to be heard in the Labour Court on Tuesday.  The union has accused health departments across all provinces of forcing health-care employees to work during the Covid-19 pandemic without personal protective equipment (PPE) and thereby endangering their lives.  On Monday, health-care workers at Dora Nginza Hospital in Nelson Mandela Bay downed tools over the lack of PPE.  The metro is the hardest hit in the province by the virus, and the hospital has seen one of its doctors infected.  In court papers, Nehawu’s general secretary Zola Saphetha said the union had observed front-line workers operating under circumstances that exposed them to the disease without the necessary protective gear, which included gloves, face masks, face shields, gowns, aprons, hair covers, respiratory protection and goggles, among other items.  The union has asked the court to direct the national health department not to compel front-line health-care workers to render services without the required PPE, and not to subject the workers to disciplinary action for refusal to carry out their functions in the absence of PPE.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siviwe Feketha on page 2 of The Star of 7 April 2020

Health workers decry alleged strict rules on masks at Durban private hospital

Daily News reports that health-care workers at a Durban private hospital have apparently complained about the hospital’s strict rules on the use of masks.  According to a health activist, staff at Lenmed eThekwini Hospital and Heart Centre had complained to him that they were not allowed to use masks, with only one ward being able to do so.  The activist claimed as follows:  “In general they’re not using masks, only the isolation ward is using masks.  They aren’t even allowed in ICU, high care or surgical wards.  Nobody else is using masks.  You’re not allowed to use a mask and you can’t bring your own mask.”  However, hospital general manager Niresh Bechan said all employees, doctors and support services were provided with the relevant personal protective equipment (PPE) and associated guidelines applicable to their role in the hospital.  “Hospitals have been divided into low, medium and high-risk areas.  Everyone working in a designated area is provided with and has been trained on the relevant PPE for that area,” said Bechan.  

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thobeka Ngema at Daily News

Duduza Clinic in Ekurhuleni to be re-opened following Covid-19 health scare

Independent News reports that according to Ekurhuleni Mayor Mzwandile Masina, the Duduza Clinic, which was shut down following a Covid-19 case, will be re-opened on Wednesday.  The clinic was shut down by the city last week after a staff nurse tested positive for the coronavirus.  Masina's office said on Tuesday that the re-opening of the clinic follows the implementation of a range of measures.  The city had sent in two mobile clinics to help substitute the clinical services offered by the closed clinic.  The building was deep cleaned and sanitised and 55 staff members were tested for Covid-19.  Of the 55 tests, 45 came back negative and the City is still awaiting the return of 10 of remaining test results.  The staff members who have not yet received their tests results will remain in self-isolation until confirmation of their results is received.  The nurse who tested positive remains under self-quarantine and is being monitored by health officials.  The nurse had contracted the virus after she attended a church conference in Bloemfontein.  Most of the cases in the Free State have been linked to that church conference.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Independent News

Prisoners and staff at East London Female Correctional Centre to be tested after official tests positive for Covid-19

TimesLIVE reports that a female official working at the East London Female Correctional Centre, in Westbank, has tested positive for Covid-19, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) advised on Monday.  DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo indicated that all officials who came into contact with the infected person have been identified and asked to isolate at home whilst awaiting testing.  The National Institute for Communicable Disease (NICD) will start mass screening and testing at the East London facility on Wednesday.  Nxumalo said prevention measures would be intensified.

Read the original of the report in the above regard by Luke Charter at TimesLIVE. Read too, Healthcare practitioner at Hibiscus Hospital in Port Shepstone tests positive for Covid-19, at News24

Transnet confirms its first positive Covid-19 case

Independent News reports that Transnet has confirmed that a member of its staff has tested positive for Covid-19, with the case having been reported on 2 April.  A spokesperson said:  "In line with the protocols set by the Department of Health and the World Health Organisation, the employee and family have been quarantined.  Employees who have come into contact with the positive case have been advised to self-isolate."  Meanwhile, a second Transnet employee is in quarantine after his wife tested positive for coronavirus.  "We are closely monitoring the employee.  Our priority is the health and safety of employees, customers and their families.  We will continue to adhere to strict health and safety protocol to ensure the safety of everyone."

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Se-Anne Rall at Independent News

Tripartite alliance rejects Covid-19 support from IMF, proposes domestic sources of funding including private retirement funds

BL Premium reports that the ANC-led tripartite alliance has formed a task team to engage the government on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, but it has ruled out approaching the IMF for assistance.  The alliance, made up of the ANC, the SACP and Cosatu, said it would be making proposals to the government regarding the immediate, medium and long-term impact of the pandemic.  The team, which will be led by ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte, includes Enoch Godongwana, chair of the ANC’s subcommittee on economic transformation.  After saying on Sunday that it would take up a $1bn loan from the New Development Bank, the National Treasury said it was still considering facilities offered by other multilateral organisations.  But, the alliance slammed finance minister Tito Mboweni’s suggestion that SA could, among others, approach the IMF for assistance.  “The suggestion is rejected.  Instead, the secretariat reaffirms the need to safeguard SA’s democratic national sovereignty, the fundamental right to self-determination, our independence, which are non-negotiable, even in the midst of a crisis,” the alliance secretariat stated.  Instead, it called on the SA Reserve Bank to play a “vigorous developmental role” and said the government should evaluate and explore all sources of domestic finance, including private retirement funds.  The Treasury indicated that it was still evaluating the need for World Bank assistance and did not require IMF assistance at present.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Claudi Mailovich at BusinessLive (paywall access only)

Hundreds of informal traders get permits to work in locked-down Johannesburg

TimesLIVE reports that hundreds of informal traders will now be able to ply their trade on the streets of Johannesburg during the Covid-19 lockdown.  This is because the City of Johannesburg's economic development department has begun the process of rolling out permits to informal traders.  On Monday, 766 permits were issued — with the final number dependent on how many traders registered with the municipality make applications.  The issuing of the permits comes after informal traders were last week deemed “essential” under the Disaster Management Act.  The City said about 1,600 permits would be issued.  Traders would have to produce their City of Johannesburg certificate of acceptance, proof of trading and a valid ID/passport as documentation to be allowed to trade.  Meanwhile in Cape Town, urban management MMC Grant Twigg called on food traders to contact their nearest municipal office to apply for permits to operate.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sisanda Mbolekwa at TimesLIVE

Taxi ranks in Gauteng to be disinfected every three days to help curb Covid-19

DispatchLive reports that as part of a Gauteng transport department initiative, all taxi ranks in Gauteng will be sanitised every three days in the fight against Covid-19.  As part of the initiative, every taxi, commuter and driver will also be sanitised.  Gauteng transport MEC Jacob Mamabolo launched the programme at the Sangweni taxi rank in Tembisa on Monday.  Outsurance, SA Taxi, AngloGold Ashanti, Clinix Health Group, Armscor and MTN are all supporting the initiative.  Mamabolo reported that Outsurance would provide 120 people who have been trained to disinfect facilities.  The department will provide these workers with transport and they will move from one rank to another disinfecting the facilities.  Taxis will be sanitised daily.  Gloves, masks and sanitisers will be distributed to drivers and their commuters will also be sanitised.  “This programme will go to the entire province.  We want to touch every taxi because one taxi left out can be very dangerous.  If one commuter gets inside, it can be very dangerous,” said Mamabolo.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Penwell Dlamini at DispatchLive. Read too, Sixteen taxi drivers arrested in Tshwane in connection with Covid-19 lockdown, at News24. And also, City of Ekurhuleni vows to ensure that taxi operators obey Covid-19 regulations, at News24

International Labour Organisation postpones annual conference over Covid-19

BusinessLive reports that the International Labour Organisation (ILO), a UN agency that sets global labour standards, has become the latest institution to cancel a conference due to Covid-19.  This will be the first time in the ILO’s 101 years of existence.  On Friday, the secretariat indicated that 87 members had voted in favour of a recommendation to defer the 109th session of the ILO conference until June 2021.  The conference was scheduled to take place in Geneva from 25 May to 5 June.  Employment and labour minister Thulas Nxesi commended the ILO for taking a “very responsible stance” in cancelling the conference, which brings together about 6,000 delegates from various countries.  Cosatu general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali commented:  “In the circumstances we are in, there is no alternative but to support [the call] that all meetings that have the potential of spreading Covid-19 should be avoided.”  In June 2019, the Department of Employment & Labour spent R3.2m to send a 62-member delegation to the ILO conference.  In 2018, President Cyril Ramaphosa was appointed as the co-chair of the ILO’s Global Commission on the Future of Work, alongside Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• Distressed farmers to get access to R1.2bn government grant, at BusinessLive
• Tshwane's walk-in customer care service centres reopened, at Pretoria News
• Lockdown measures sees some firms cut back work hours, salaries, at EWN
• Joburg taxi driver slammed after overloaded minibus taxi overturns on M1, at News24

MINING LABOUR

Amcu says no to mines returning to limited operations

BusinessLive reports that ahead of talks with mineral resources and energy minister Gwede Mantashe and other unions, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) has drawn a clear line in opposing the piecemeal return to work at some mines and plants with reduced workforces.  Amcu joined calls by the National Union of Mineworkers for mines to remain closed during SA’s national Covid-19 lockdown.  Mantashe has allowed limited mining and processing to continue, particularly at opencast mines, furnaces and refineries.  Labour-intensive underground mines have shut, but work has continued at pits where safe distances between miners can be kept and the health of employees more closely monitored among workforces no bigger than half the normal contingents.  On Wednesday, Mantashe is due to meet the Minerals Council SA, whose members represent 90% of SA’s mineral production.  “It is becoming clear that the DMRE is under severe pressure from the Minerals Council to start with a premature ramp-up of operations under the guise of the essential services exemption,” Mathunjwa said.  He went on to state:  “We are equally concerned about the job security of workers and the state of the South African economy at large.  However, these concerns must never be addressed at the expense of the health and safety of workers.”

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Allan Seccombe at BusinessLive. Read too, Transnet to resume coal, iron ore exports following amendment to disaster regulations, at Miningmx

Anglo commits to spend R2.4bn weekly on services and wages in preparation for Covid-19 recovery

Miningmx reports that Anglo American has set out its plans for supporting employees, communities and business during the Covid-19 pandemic.  In SA it will spend R2.4bn per week on the procurement of services and wages.  This was in order to embark on economic recovery once the pandemic was over, said Anglo American CEO, Mark Cutifani, who described the onset of Covid-19 as “… the greatest threat to global health in a century”.  “We want to ensure we are ready to support what will be a crucial economic recovery phase for the countries in which we operate and the global economy,” Cutifani said in a group statement on Monday.  He went on to indicate:  “While the commercial impacts of this crisis will likely be significant for many businesses, we are doing all that we can to insulate our employees during this period.  For example, in South Africa where the most extensive operational impact is currently felt, we have committed to continue paying the salaries of all of our 47,000 employees during the 21-day lockdown period, ensuring that they are able to focus on the health and safety of their families and their local communities.”

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by David McKay at Miningmx. Read too, Anglo going to great lengths to support South Africa in its Covid-19 hour of need, at Mining Weekly

RETRENCHMENTS / COMPANY JOB CUTS

More than 2,300 employees have so far chosen to voluntarily leave Telkom

BL Premium reports that according to communications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, Telkom has cut more than three-quarters of the jobs it intended to reduce, thus getting a step closer to saving an estimated R10bn in wage costs.  The partly government-owned company is in the middle of cutting 3,000 jobs as the company contends with falling revenue from its fixed-line phone network.  Ndabeni-Abrahams indicated that more than 2,300 Telkom employees had so far chosen to voluntarily leave the company.  While expressing her displeasure at the retrenchments, Ndabeni-Abrahams said that the government was aware that Telkom was dealing with technological advances that could affect any company.  The telecoms company said it would use its cash reserves to pay for the cost of the restructuring, which would amount to R1.5bn.  Telkom also said it was in different stages of consultation with the Communication Workers Union, Fedusa, Solidarity and the Information Communications and Technology Union.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mudiwa Gavaza at BusinessLive (paywall access only). Read too, Moody’s downgrades Telkom in line with SA’s sovereign rating, at BusinessLive

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• More jobs on the line if alcohol ban continues, on page 3 of The Citizen of 7 April 2020

REMUNERATION / BONUSES

Reserve Bank urges banks to halt dividends and executive cash bonuses in 2020

BL Premium reports that the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) has urged banks to halt dividend payouts and bonuses to shore up capital and continue lending to businesses and households pummelled by the Covid-19 national lockdown.  The recommendation, which is nonbinding, comes about a week after the central bank said it would allow lenders to dip into their regulatory capital reserves to support efforts to cushion the economic impact of the stay-at-home order on businesses and households.  The Prudential Authority (PA), which is the SARB’s banking-supervision unit, said in a statement:  “The PA is of the view that capital resources must continue to be available to support the real economy and to absorb losses in the immediate and medium to long term, and as such the PA expects that no distribution of dividends on ordinary shares and no payment of cash bonuses to executive officers and material risk takers should take place in 2020.”  Last week, the SARB freed up at least R320bn in lending, saying it would give banks a break if they breached their liquidity coverage ratio.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tiisetso Motsoeneng and Lukanyo Mnyanda at BusinessLive (paywall access only)

Bloemfontein Celtic players could face salary cuts due to Covid-19

SowetanLive reports that Bloemfontein Celtic have become the first Premier Soccer League club to concede that it might have to ask its players to accept salary cuts as a direct result of the coronavirus crisis.  Celtic owner Max Tshabalala has revealed that his already financially distressed club might not be able to afford to pay full salaries at the end of this month.  Tshabalala, a Mangaung businessman who two years ago put the club up for sale as he accepted it was too costly to run, said his cash reserves were now fast depleting due to Covid-19.  He relies heavily on his property business (Ikaheng Projects) and the monthly PSL grant of R2.5m to fund Phunya Sele Sele.  Celtic's financial woes in recent years have been reported widely in the media as well as Tshabalala's struggles to pay salaries, which in 2018 led to protests by fans and a strike by players and technical staff.  The Celtic boss, however, said everything would be decided during a meeting with the players if the situation worsened.  Club chief executive Khumbulani Konco confirmed that all players had received their salaries:  "We have been paying the players this year. Since the [beginning of] season everybody has been paid.”

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Neville Khoza at SowetanLive

DISMISSALS

Constitutional Court provides relief for dismissed soldiers

City Press reports that a Constitutional Court (ConCourt) ruling has granted protection to members of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) against the abuse afforded by a Defence Act provision dealing with dismissals from the army.  Former soldier Teaspoon Maswanganyi took the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, to court to challenge his dismissal.  But despite winning his appeal, the SANDF refused to reinstate him.  Last month, in a unanimous decision, the ConCourt ruled in his favour again.  His attorney Tumisang Phasha commented that Maswanganyi’s court victory against Mapisa-Nqakula added a layer of legal protection for soldiers against unfair dismissals.  Phasha explained that section 59(1)(d) of the Defence Act provided “a short cut to the department of defence or the SANDF to dismiss members without observing the requirements of disciplinary hearings and observing fair military labour procedures, like conducting disciplinary hearings, and appeal procedures”.  The provision was intended to ensure that the SANDF did not have in its ranks members convicted of serious crimes.  However, Phasha said, it had often been abused by army chiefs.  He indicated that the judgment of Maswanganyi has provided a correct interpretation of section 59(1)(d).

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Setumo Stone at City Press