Business Report writes that the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) has seen a spike of applications for large-scale retrenchments in terms of Section 189 of the Labour Relations during the national Covid-19 lockdown period.
Speaking on Friday, CCMA director Cameron Morajane said the organisation had received 17 referrals of large-scale retrenchments affecting 3,344 employees. It had also received 151 referrals for Section 189A applications for lay-offs for operational requirements which were not large-scale. Morajane advised that the numbers were not a true reflection of the actual dismissals happening in the economy because small-scale dismissals were usually not reported. “The numbers you see are affected by the fact that the CCMA offices were on Level 5 lockdown,” explained Morajane, adding that when the organisation resumed full operations it would receive a huge number of referrals. “It is sad that we are losing small businesses that are closing, because small businesses contribute to reducing our unemployment rate, but if they are closing it means our unemployment rate will then start to soar. It is an acute problem that needs an integrated approach for us to be able to assist and improve,” Morajane lamented. He also indicated that a new approach to business could be expected from the CCMA. For example, it was developing digital referral forms to minimise physical visits to CCMA offices.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dineo Faku at Business Report
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page