In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Monday, 11 May 2020.
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Calls mounting for a special government intervention to help keep the SA aviation industry afloat Business Times reports that Comair’s decision last week to go into business rescue sent shockwaves through the aviation industry because it has consistently delivered annual profits. The prevailing view in aviation circles is if this could happen to Comair, which is solvent, it could happen to anyone. Comair is the first high-profile victim of Covid-19 in the industry, notwithstanding that state-owned SA Airways (SAA) went the business rescue route in December 2019, but that was before the onset of the pandemic. Calls are now increasing for a special government intervention to help keep the SA aviation industry afloat, with low-cost airline FlySafair maintaining that it was imperative that the industry receive clarity from the state “in terms of intervention into this industry”. Kirby Gordon of Safair, which owns FlySafair, indicated: Help from the state can come in a number of ways. It could be relief on charges from state-owned entities, which are in a better position to lend against government guarantees — so we could look to have our cash flow preserved and temporarily improve our margins to claw back in more viable timelines if relief is granted by the likes of Airports Company SA, Air Traffic Navigation Services, SA Weather Service, and the Civil Aviation Authority.” Chris Zweigenthal of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa advised that they had written to the government requesting aid for the industry. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nick Wilson at BusinessLive Tough business workout ahead for gym owners and fitness professionals Business Times reports that gym owners and other fitness professionals, who are likely to be able to operate normally again under level 1 lockdown regulations, have increasingly moved their businesses online to stay afloat. While some existing and new clients have warmed to the idea of virtual training, the new format provides owners with only a small proportion of the business they would ordinarily have enjoyed. They also face an uncertain future when lockdown ends as consumers may be reluctant to return to crowded gyms or may no longer have funds to pay for membership. For example, personal trainer and Pilates instructor Judy Kay has been forced to move everything online. Fortunately for her, several months before the coronavirus outbreak she had been training clients online using applications such as Zoom. But online training, can be a lot more challenging than a physical class. "There are personal trainers who haven't done online training and they are struggling. There are also a lot of personal trainers who don't have money to purchase data and they don't have Wi-Fi at home." Kay noted. Another Pilates instructor Abigayle van Wyngaard reported that when the lockdown was announced clients cancelled classes and "income fell completely". Larger operators are also finding the going tough. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nick Wilson at BusinessLive Covid-19 lockdown could give private schools a caning Business Times reports that AdvTech, one of the biggest private education groups in SA with brands such as CrawfordSchools and Trinityhouse, says it is feeling the effects of the fallout from the Covid-19 lockdown. The group is about 20% behind on school fee collections for April, compared with April last year. CEO Roy Douglas commented that those figures were "indicative of the potential problems and the environment we are in". He indicated that AdvTech was well aware of the crippling effects of the economic disruption and it had "undertaken to engage with individuals to understand the extent of the problems and the consequences", but it was "impossible" for AdvTech to "do across-the-board deep discounting" on fees. He said the group's schools have been "very successful" in shifting operations online, and its teachers were "very much at work". "We are watching things closely - our goal is to move through this with a limited amount of disruption to our staff and stakeholders. If the situation worsens then we look at across-the-board salary reductions, but in a graded manner. The staff at lower levels we would want to impact as little as we can, and those at higher levels we would pull back more,” Douglas indicated. Curro Holdings said the lockdown has had "an enormous impact on the sector", with strategies from learning to business plans having to be reconsidered. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nick Wilson at Business Times Stats SA reinventing itself under lockdown with online surveys, showing how technology will be at centre front beyond Covid-19 BusinessLive reports that Statistics SA is making use of online surveys during the Covid-19 lockdown in a bid to continue generating the data needed by the government. It is also looking at this method to prepare for the national census in October 2021. As soon as the lockdown was declared it withdrew its data collectors from the field to prevent the spread of infection and sought alternative, technological means of gathering information. It has produced online survey results on the effect of the pandemic on business turnover and the ability of firms to survive the lockdown; unemployment and income; an essential products consumer price index; the effect of the pandemic on health behaviour and perceptions about Covid-19 and on education; and the accessibility of medicines. A survey was also conducted on the extent of interprovincial movements during the lockdown. Statistician-general Risenga Maluleke told MPs in a briefing on Friday that: “One of the things we cannot deny is that technology will take the centre front as we go beyond Covid-19,” Maluleke said. Even though Stats SA has faced financial challenges — its council threatened to resign a few months ago if its budget was not increased — like all other departments it is having to propose cuts to the Treasury as part of the government’s efforts to find R130bn in funding for its Covid-19 response. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Linda Ensor at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Trial walk-in sanitation tunnels launched at Bara Taxi Rank in effort to combat Covid-19 News24 reports that the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport on Monday morning started piloting measures to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 at minibus taxi ranks by using walk-in sanitation tunnels. According to the department, this was part of a month-long programme to test solutions derived from interventions adopted by the Gautrain Management Agency. MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure Jacob Mamabolo, together with Johannesburg Mayor Geoff Makhubo, tested the implementation of the tunnels and other social distancing innovations at the Bara Taxi Rank in Diepkloof. Gauteng taxi industry leaders and the SA National Taxi Council formed part of the programme. “As one of the biggest public transport modes in the country, learnings derived from the pilot will be rolled out in major taxi ranks across the province," the department said. These measures will be in addition to programmes already in place, including the disinfection of minibuses after every trip, loading of 70% of the vehicle's capacity and the sanitisation of commuters' hands, which are standard operating models. The minibus taxi industry, as the largest people mover in Gauteng, faces a huge risk of spreading the virus. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Riaan Grobler at News24 JMPD denies reports that officers have to buy their own face masks TimesLIVE reports that the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) has denied reports that its officers have been forced to buy their own face masks during the Covid-19 outbreak in the country. JMPD spokesperson Wayne Minnaar said that on 1 May the department had received 5,000 masks from a non-governmental organisation and that “every officer” who was on duty on that day received two masks. On 2 May, a further 500 masks were donated to JMPD, Minnaar indicated. Then days later, they received a donation of 20,000 masks and six boxes of sanitiser. Minnaar commented further as follows: “MMC for safety in Johannesburg, Molly Mokoena, has personally intervened with regards to wrongful allegations that officers were told to buy masks. She withdraw a communique for the purchase of masks because there was no need for this purchase. JMPD officers now have more than enough masks, sanitisers and gloves.” Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos at TimesLIVE
Public servants’ wage increase battle still ongoing Sunday Independent reports that SA’s 1.3 million public servants are using different tactics to force the government to honour the parties 2018 wage deal, which if successful could see their pay increase by billions of rand. Public sector unions affiliated to labour federation Cosatu were scheduled to be back at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) on Monday to continue with conciliation, which commenced on 28 April after a dispute was declared by the unions. The government still insists that it would wish to implement the 2018 agreement, which is in its final year, but through a different implementation modality due to the fiscal constraints imposed by unsustainable economic conditions and pressures created by the Covid-19 pandemic. In terms of the 2018 agreement, public servants were due in April to have received wage increases between 4.4% and 5.4%. The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has warned that should the conciliation at the PSCBC not be in its favour, it will file for arbitration. “We believe that the dispute process must proceed to the next stage of arbitration as such the union will be consulting its structures for a way forward,” it said in a statement. Another group of unions affiliated to labour federation Fedusa has resolved to take the government to the Labour Court for breach of contract of employment and to enforce the existing agreement. However, they will have to wait until the national lockdown is over for their matter to be heard in court. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Loyiso Sidimba at Independent News
With a Labour Court ruling halting retrenchments, SAA is continuing to operate repatriation and cargo flights ANA reports that SA Airways (SAA) will be continuing to operate repatriation and cargo flights for the rest of this month and beyond after the Labour Court on Friday ruled in favour of organised labour against planned retrenchments at the state-owned carrier. The court affirmed that the business rescue practitioners (BRPs) could not retrench workers without producing a business rescue plan, thereby scuppering their plans to lay off the airline’s 4,700 workers. The BRPs’ plan came after they failed to secure a R10 billion government bailout. The judge ruled that the conduct of SAA and the BRPs in issuing Section 189 (retrenchment) notices to labour unions had been procedurally unfair and that they should be withdrawn. The judge said nothing in the order precluding the BRPs from offering, or any employee from accepting, any offer of voluntary retrenchment. SAA on Friday defied its rescuers, saying it had no plans to cease its operations. The carrier said there were several requests for repatriation flights during the course of this month that were being considered. Interim SAA executive chairperson Thandeka Mgoduso said the airline would honour all existing commitments to provide air transportation services to its customers and any other requests that it received. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siphelele Dludla on page 9 of Business Report of 11 May 2020 Big spike in applications for large-scale retrenchments, says CCMA 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
Safa appoints its legal officer as acting CEO to replace Gay Mokoena who was asked by Danny Jordaan to leave BusinessLive reports that the SA Football Association (Safa) has appointed Tebogo Motlanthe as its acting CEO. The 39-year-old Motlanthe takes over from Gay Mokoena‚ who was asked to leave the position on 15 April by Safa president Danny Jordaan. “Advocate Motlanthe formed part of the Safa legal team that successfully defended the association against the Fli-Afrika complaint in which the travel agency was claiming millions of rand from the FA,” Safa indicated. It added that the lawsuit was dismissed by both the Supreme Court of Appeal and, last week, by the Constitutional Court. Motlanthe obtained an LLB degree from the University of Venda for Science and Technology in 2008. He earned a sports management qualification from Wits Business School in 2013. He has been serving as Safa’s legal officer from 2011. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ofentse Ratsie and Marc Strydom at BusinessLive Society of black engineers slams Eskom’s plan to re-hire retired engineers Business Report writes that Eskom's plans to consider recruiting a group of retired engineers to boost its capacity to maintain its ageing coal-fired power stations has angered black engineers. Last week, Eskom announced that a group of 60 retired engineers had volunteered their skills to help rebuild the organisation. The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) over the weekend slammed the plan, accusing Eskom CE Andre de Ruyter of overlooking black engineers. NSBE president Mdu Mlaba said they were “completely offended” by the list of the touted engineers revealed by De Ruyter at a presentation to MPs. “A list of cherry-picked retired engineers was subsequently shared with NSBE, and upon close scrutiny, we discovered that all of them are white. We are aware that most of them are not qualified engineers; they are artisans and, at best, technicians,” Mlaba claimed. He added: “We are enraged by this plan, as it undermines black engineers who are qualified, experienced and competent to fix the technical challenges at Eskom. Not long ago, Eskom let go of some 20 highly experienced technical managers under the guise of restructuring. Most of them were black.” An Eskom spokesperson said they welcomed all engineers who had specialist skills, regardless of their gender and race, and would consider their CVs individually. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siphelele Dludla at Business Report Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Teacher unions order their members not to return to 'unsafe' schools The Star reports that school management teams stayed at home on Monday after the Department of Basic Education failed to deliver on measures to ensure the protection of teachers’ health in time. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced on 30 April that school management teams would report to schools on Monday, while teachers were expected on 18 May. Teacher unions, however, sent out a directive to their members to not report for duty because the department had failed to meet the minimum Level 4 safety requirements. Department spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga, confirmed that school management teams would not resume duty, as the department was in agreement with the unions. “Provinces have indicated that they were not ready, so the SA Democratic Teacher’s Union (Sadtu) has done the right thing to inform their members. We are in agreement on this matter,” said Mhlanga. Sadtu advised in a statement on Friday that the department had committed that “non-negotiables” would be delivered to the schools before they open. The “non-negotiables” included the fumigation and disinfection of school facilities; provision of soap, sanitisers and masks; screening of learners, teachers and support personnel; and reduction of class sizes, among others. It is unlawful to expect for workers to report for duty when their safety is not guaranteed,” the union said. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Chulumanco Mahamba at The Star
Plan to develop skills, learnerships for ex-offenders on parole Cape Argus reports that the SA Sentenced and Awaiting Trial Prisoners Organisation (Sasapo) has initiated a campaign to address skills development, learnerships and apprenticeships programmes for ex-offenders on parole. Sasapo chairperson Phindile Zweni said the aim of the initiative was to deal with challenges for ex-offenders to find employment and fight rejection by communities because of their criminal records. In most cases those challenges resulted in ex-offenders re-offending and going back to prison. Zweni noted that the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) was mandated to ensure the effective rehabilitation of offenders into normal society, something that it unfortunately failed to fulfil. This had prompted the organisation to form partnerships with other stakeholders to ensure successful and sustainable implementation of intervention strategies to alleviate the high recidivism of released offenders. This initiative was announced after President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday authorised the placement on parole of selected categories of offenders to curb the spread of coronavirus in prisons. “The decision taken by the president to combat the spread of Covid-19 in correctional centres could relieve our correctional services facilities of just under 19,000 inmates out of a population of 155,000,” the Presidency advised. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sisonke Mlamla at Cape Argus
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