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 afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Tuesday, 12 May 2020.
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Cosatu joins calls for government to ease Covid-19 lockdown down to level 3 BusinessLive reports that Cosatu has called on the government to ease Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, saying the state cannot run the embattled economy on food parcels and relief benefits. The trade union federation’s spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said on Monday that SA needed to move to level 3 “as soon as it is safe to do so” and the move must be guided by the need to save lives and minimise infections. “There is a risk that infections will increase, and the necessary health and safety measures must be put in place to reduce this risk,” he warned. Pamla stressed that the state could not afford to run the struggling economy on benefits issued by the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), which has disbursed almost R11bn in coronavirus relief benefits to date. According to projections by the National Treasury, SA could lose up to 7-million jobs and see unemployment shooting up from 29.1% to 50%. “Level 3 will allow most workers to resume work. This is critical to ensuring that their jobs can be saved and that they can provide food for their families. But it must be done in a manner which protects their lives,” said Pamla. On 1 May, the country downgraded from level 5 to level 4 lockdown to allow for key sectors of the economy including mining, manufacturing and agriculture to resume operations. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive Cape Town could shed 90,000 tourism jobs over six months due to Covid-19 crisis BusinessLive reports that more than 90,000 jobs in Cape Town’s tourism sector could be wiped out over six months as the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic continue to be felt. This was indicated by a new survey conducted by Cape Town Tourism, the city’s marketing body. The sector is a key foreign currency earner and jobs driver in SA. It is responsible for almost 740,000 jobs nationally and just more than 113,000 in Cape Town alone. The Cape Town Tourism survey found that many businesses would not be able to survive an extended period of lockdown, with only 4% noting that they had the resources to survive more than a year. About 83% of businesses indicated that they would not survive longer than six months under the current lockdown conditions. Furthermore, 56% of businesses did not have a recovery plan in place. While many businesses have explored various relief options, the vast amount of paperwork has deterred some of them, while others did not meet the requirements for relief. There has been a significant effect on employees of tourism businesses as 36% of respondents indicated that they were only able to provide partial pay to staff, while 31% have staff on unpaid leave, and a further 18% have had to retrench workers. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bekezela Phakathi at BusinessLive Many domestic workers not covered by Covid-19 relief measures; unions propose amnesty for all employers not registered with UIF GroundUp writes that according to Statistics SA, there are over one million domestic workers in SA, but many will be excluded from the Covid-19 Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters). Employers who are not able to pay salaries during the lockdown are compelled to apply for Ters relief on behalf of their employees, but this excludes workers who do not contribute to the fund (often in the informal sector) and undocumented foreign nationals. According to a survey of about 600 domestic workers conducted by the Izwi Domestic Worker Alliance in April 2020, 79% were not registered for UIF and 11% did not know whether they were registered or not. The SA Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union (Sadsawu) and United Domestic Workers of SA (Udwosa) have proposed an amnesty for all employers who have not registered their employees and have not contributed to the fund. In a submission sent to the UIF Commissioner, the unions said the purpose of the amnesty would be to promote compliance with the law and to ensure that domestic workers have access to Ters. “While no fine will be imposed, employers should be issued with compliance orders to settle the outstanding contributions on registration, or arrange for payment,” their submission dated 4 May indicates. The unions said domestic workers who have not been paid during the lockdown must be advised to apply for UIF and their applications should be approved “as a matter of extreme urgency”. All labour centres should be opened to ensure that domestic workers who do not have access to the internet can apply for UIF, said the unions. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zoë Postman at GroundUp Applications open on Monday for Covid-19 temporary relief grants BusinessLive reports that applications for the R350 Covid-19 temporary grant, meant to provide some relief for those who are unemployed and not receiving any form of financial assistance, officially opened on Monday. Social Security Agency of SA (Sassa) CEO Busisiwe Memela said that in the initial test of the application system, 91,000 people applied for the social relief of distress grant via the Whatsapp line, which was started with the help of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Of those who had applied through the Whatsapp line, 11,000 were found to already be receiving a social grant. A total of 250,000 had applied via e-mail, of which 50% were already receiving financial help, disqualifying them. Those wanting to apply can do so through Whatsapp, SMS and online. Memela said applicants would be checked against all government databases to ensure that they were not receiving some sort of financial relief through a social grant, the UIF or the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, among others. The temporary grant will not be distributed in the same way as social grants. Money will be paid directly into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts. For those who do not have a bank account, there will be the option of collecting money from the Post Office through an Mzansi account or through cash-send or e-wallet. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Genevieve Quintal at BusinessLive Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Nearly 100 more prisoners in East London prison test positive for Covid-19 TimesLIVE reports that nearly 100 inmates have tested positive for Covid-19 in the East London prison, bringing to 321 confirmed cases in the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), among both officials and prisoners. In a statement on Monday evening, DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo confirmed that the number of inmates infected in the Eastern Cape had climbed from 75 to 173 - with the 98 new Covid-19 infections occurring in the East London facility. There are also 50 officials infected in the province. Nxumalo reported that there were also three new cases of inmates being infected in the Western Cape, as well as six officials in the province. In Kimberley, in the Northern Cape, one official has tested positive. "In order to avail immediate expertise in the management of infections, prevention and control measures, the department has appointed a medical advisory panel and additional 393 nursing personnel," Nxumalo advised. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at TimesLIVE Union pressure leads to Zwide Clinic in Port Elizabeth closing after a nurse died and 11 staffers tested positive for Covid-19 GroundUp reports that the Eastern Cape Department of Health has bowed to pressure by unions to shut down Zwide Clinic in Port Elizabeth. The closure on Monday came after the death of a nurse a few weeks ago and 11 staff members testing positive for Covid-19 on Saturday. Staff at the clinic have been demanding that they all be tested and that the clinic be closed for fumigation. A few nurses who have already been tested are awaiting their results at home. According to health unions, the department’s Covid-19 standard operating plan (SOP) was negligent and the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) posed an even greater risk to both the clinic and the Zwide community. Dr Litha Matiwane, provincial deputy director-general for health care services, on Sunday confirmed that the facility would be closing for “deep decontamination”. “I cannot say when it will reopen because we are testing all 42 staff members. The duration will also be determined by the release of the results,” he indicated. Matiwane said tracing and testing teams would make sure that the people who had been in contact with staff who tested positive were also tested. Regarding PPE concerns raised by the unions, Matiwane said: “PPE is a constant struggle and is rare globally. Aprons are a part of the standard operating plan. There is nothing wrong with wearing a mask for the whole day.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mkhuseli Sizani at TimesLIVE Lockdown delinquent charged with attempted murder for trying to run over Cape Town traffic cop TimesLIVE reports that a 37-year-old Cape Town man refusing to let his freedom of movement be curbed by lockdown regulations has been charged with attempted murder after nearly running over a traffic cop. "Metro police officers in Delft had their hands full when a suspect reversed into a patrol vehicle, tried to run over officers with his vehicle and fled the scene of the accident," the City of Cape Town's metro police department said on Monday. The suspect was arrested for attempted murder, malicious damage to property, fleeing the scene of an accident and failing to comply with a lawful instruction of a peace officer. He was also charged for the transgression of the Disaster Management Act and resisting arrest. The suspect was one of 23 people arrested by metro police and Cape Town traffic services department at the weekend on a range of charges, including drug possession and theft. Mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said there were "far too many" people on the roads in violation of lockdown regulations or "dabbling in criminal activity". Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Aron Hyman at TimesLIVE Chairperson of Council for Medical Schemes dies of Covid-19 complications News24 reports that the chairperson of the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS), Dr Clarence Mini, has died from Covid-19 complications. This was confirmed by the CMS on Tuesday, with the permission of the family. Grace Khoza, general manager for stakeholder relations at the CMS, indicated in a statement: "Dr Mini contracted coronavirus (Covid-19) and was hospitalised for more than a month, and all of us were hoping that he would pull through.” Khoza indicated that Mini also lived with asthma and commented further as follows: "This wonderful, compassionate and likeable individual leaves a legacy of having served this country and industry in many capacities with great distinction.” She added that one of his many success stories was turning the Government Employees Medical Scheme's (GEMS) reserves around from being in "tatters". The CMS is the statutory body that oversees and regulates all medical aids in the country. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Jenni Evans at News24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Government and some public sector unions talk about new wage increase offer BL Premium reports that talks between the government and public sector trade unions on the dispute over wages recommenced last week with the government putting a new offer on the table. In terms of the 2018 three-year wage agreement, public servants should have received increases of between 4.3% and 5.4% on 1 April. But the government, which is seeking to cut expenditure and slow the growth of the public-sector wage bill, in March proposed a wage freeze for 2020/21. The parties are now in dispute and are undergoing conciliation in the Public Sector Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC). Last week, the government increased its offer to unions to include a one-off monthly gratuity for the year, in a combination of cash and additional leave. The gratuity would be calculated on a sliding scale of between 2.7% and 1.6% of the monthly wage, with an equivalent increase to employees’ leave allowance. It would not be included into the baseline of the wage, meaning that in April 2021, employees would remain on the same notch as a year earlier. Mugwena Maluleka, who heads Cosatu’s public-sector unions joint management committee, said that unions had raised a number of questions with the government negotiators, who had undertaken to reply at a meeting on Friday. But, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) said on Tuesday it would not continue with the conciliation and was ready to proceed to arbitration. Unions affiliated to Fedusa did not attend the conciliation hearing and have said they intend to proceed directly to the labour court to have the matter heard. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carol Paton at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
Ahead of International Nurses Day, Gauteng health-care workers complain about poor working conditions SowetanLive reports that health-care workers who spoke anonymously ahead of International Nurses Day on Tuesday lamented their working conditions in hospitals and clinics in Gauteng. International Nurses Day is observed around the world every year to honour the contributions nurses make to society. A nurse who works at a government hospital in Pretoria claimed that after seven years in the health sector, there was little to celebrate. "We are underpaid and working in times when we can die at any moment because we are essential workers during the Covid-19 pandemic," she pointed out. The nurse said her passion to help people was the only thing that has kept her in her job. "As essential workers we put our lives in danger, but we don't get a risk allowance or full personal protective equipment," the nurse lamented. Because of the shortage of staff at her hospital, she was forced to work extra shifts. A nurse at a clinic in Daveyton on the East Rand said although she worked in a smaller facility, she faced more pressure because of the many patients needing care. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Promise Marupeng at TimesLIVE. Read too, Nursing conditions are ‘appalling’, say unions, at SowetanLive
SAA fails to pay over to Sars income tax deducted from staff salaries ANA reports that South African Airways (SAA) has not paid over the income tax the company deducted from its employees to the SA Revenue Service (Sars). It is therefore in breach of the bailout conditions imposed on it by the National Treasury, the Democratic Alliance (DA) pointed out on Tuesday. The stricken airline's failure to pay over the taxes emerged in a report to Parliament's committee on appropriations. The DA's spokesperson on appropriations, Ashor Sarupen, said withholding staff PAYE deductions flouted a clear condition imposed on the airline last year in return for continued public funding. He noted that the report to the appropriations committee made clear that the airline's business rescue practitioners (BRPs) were withholding staff's deductions as a means to weather SAA's liquidity crisis. Sarupen remarked that this meant that employees of SAA were now in a position where their taxes had been deducted from their salaries but they could not be considered tax compliant, on top of which they were likely to lose their jobs and income. The government has turned down a request from the business rescue team at SAA for further funding to the tune of R10-billion. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News
SA battling with overcrowded classes, yet nearly 1,400 public schools were shut down over past 10 years The Star reports that nearly 1,400 public schools were closed in SA over the past 10 years. The country had 24,453 public schools in 2010, but the number has now declined to 23,076, showing a loss of 1,377 schools in 10 years for a country that is battling serious overcrowding in many schools. The closures appear to have been the result of the Basic Education Department’s so-called rationalisation programme. This largely entailed the shutting down of smaller, non-viable schools and merging them with others. The Eastern Cape (383) and Free State (337) had the largest numbers of closures. KwaZulu-Natal recorded 106 closures and Mpumalanga 159. The Western Cape closed the least number of schools, namely 10 over the past decade. Gauteng was the only province that recorded an increase in the number of schools by 56 to 2,071, but it was the province that recorded the largest growth in the learner population. In comment, a unionist in the Eastern Cape cautioned against classifying all closures as rational. “There are some officials who want to be seen to be doing something on the ground. They do this at the expense of the learners by closing down schools of the sons and daughters of the working class,” claimed Chris Mdingi of the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Bongani Nkosi at The Star
Former Gautrain IT technician gets 10 years behind bars for using spyware to steal millions News24 reports that the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Monday sentenced a former IT technician, Obakeng Israel Busang, who had been contracted to the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA), to an effective 10 years behind bars for the unlawful installation of spyware on GMA laptop and desktop computers. Gautrain lost about R11 million after Busang hacked the IT systems and let outsiders access it with the intention of siphoning off funds from the organisation's accounts. He was arrested in 2014. During the initial stages of his trial, Busang pleaded not guilty, but later changed his plea to guilty. He was convicted of 38 counts of contravening Section 86(4) of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act of 2002. "Busang was responsible for assisting employees with technical problems related to their laptops or desktops. He then used this opportunity, under false pretences that he was installing the latest software, to install spyware such as remote administration tools (RATs) and key loggers to overcome security measures designed to protect passwords and/or access codes to gain access to information from employees' laptops and desktops," NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane explained. GMA lost not less than R1.2 million to have the spyware removed and to replace some hard drives. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Riaan Grobler at News24
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