City Press reports that the massive loss of jobs – brought about by the Covid-19 coronavirus – has resulted in hordes of people flocking into the offices of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), which began operations again last week for the first time since the nationwide lockdown began in March.  

When the CCMA’s doors opened last Wednesday, complainants rushed into its offices, hoping to get some sort of assistance.  Phakamile Hlubi-Majola of the National Union of Metalworkers of SA warned employers not to take advantage of Covid-19 to unfairly dismiss employees.  “Our members are experiencing extreme hardship at this time.  Brutal employers have taken advantage of the coronavirus pandemic to vary conditions and restructure,” she claimed, adding that the union would defend its members facing retrenchments because of the Covid-19 lockdown.  Sizwe Pamla, spokesperson for Cosatu, did not mince his words, saying the union federation would not accept any retrenchments caused by the lockdown.  CCMA director Cameron Morajane said the commission witnessed a substantial number of cases on Wednesday in all its offices.  “These were apart from enquiries on other labour matters.  Our Johannesburg office alone received between 300 and 400 cases,” he reported.  With the number of CCMA cases expected to increase, Morajane said:  “Measures have been put in place to ensure that the CCMA has adequate capacity and resources to deal with the hike in referred matters.”

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Palesa Dlamini and Mandisa Nyathi at City Press

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