Today's Labour News

COVID-19 HEALTH & SAFETY

Overwhelmed by Covid-19 death claims, particularly among the working population, insurers plead for faster inoculation

Fin24 reports that three of the country's big insurers, namely Discovery, Momentum Metropolitan Holdings (MMH) and Liberty, have published their death claims statistics. These show that the second coronavirus wave was more severe among the working population. "We need to do the rollout of the vaccine faster. Plans that talk about a 12 and even an 18-month rollout won't work. We need to do 10 million inoculations per month," pleaded MMH CEO Hillier Meyer on Thursday. Having witnessed a never-seen-before spike in death claims across MMH's operations, Meyer said SA could not afford to be "caught napping" again when the other 10 Covid-19 vaccines that were in the final phase of development became ready for procurement. In Meyer's ideal world, SA would get 40 million people vaccinated by the end of September, and he does not see why this goal cannot be attained. Medical aids, big businesses, and a host of other stakeholders stood willing to help government procure vaccines, he said. The life insurance sector is collectively losing millions in death claims. It is also losing billions from people who are cashing out their retirement savings and investments to survive. Meyer said the second wave hit the working population particularly hard. During the first wave, death statistics were biased towards the elderly. In the second wave, Momentum Corporate - the division that provides employee benefits - recorded a 35% spike in death claims than it normally did. Death claims for people aged between 40 and 70 were nearly 50% higher. Liberty's Tiaan Kotze pointed out that, while the insurer could not differentiate between Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 cases since most death certificates cited natural deaths, the company "definitely" experienced excess deaths, particularly among employed people.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Londiwe Buthelezi at Fin24

Police warn against possible fake Covid-19 vaccines on sale

News24 reports that the police have cautioned the public against purchasing fake vaccines from unscrupulous people looking to cash in on the Covid-19 pandemic. The warning followed upon a raid on a warehouse and the apprehension of four people in Germiston, Gauteng, last year. They were found in possession of 400 doses of fake Covid-19 vaccines and fake N95 masks worth millions. Police spokesperson Colonel Brenda Muridili said investigators feared that the four accused had already prior to their arrests advertised that a vaccine was on sale. "No approved vaccines are currently available for sale online or physically. Any person who buys these drugs is putting themselves at risk and giving their money to organised criminals. Police will continue to detect and investigate anyone involved in the organised syndicates trying to enrich themselves by smuggling and distributing unregistered and illicit medicine," warned Muridili. The four accused made their most recent appearance in the Germiston Magistrate's Court in February. They were charged with the contravention of Counterfeit Goods Act, the Customs and Excise Act and Medicines and Related Substances Act.

Read the original of the report in the above regard by Getrude Makhafola at News24

Tributes pour in after Absa Group deputy CEO Peter Matlare’s death on Sunday of Covid-19

TimesLIVE reports that Absa Group deputy CEO Peter Matlare, who died of complications related to Covid-19 on Sunday, was a consummate professional and a family man. His family said the following in a statement issued by Absa: “Peter Matlare succumbed to Covid-related complications on Sunday 7 March, 2021. He was passionate about transforming businesses, and believed deeply in the potential of Africa. He also created opportunities for dozens of young managers and professionals to expand their horizons in the businesses he led. … His support for family, friends and colleagues has left a lasting legacy. May his soul rest in peace.” Matlare, who was also the CEO of Absa's regional operations, was appointed in that position in August 2016 and was an executive director on the board.   He was also a former CEO of the SABC, chief strategy and business development officer of Vodacom SA and executive director of commercial at Vodacom SA. Matlare held the position of CEO of Tiger Brands until the end of 2015.   Tributes for Matlare poured in on social media on Sunday evening.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Iavan Pijoos at TimesLIVE. See too, Absa deputy CEO Peter Matlare succumbs to Covid-19, at BusinessLive

Other internet posting(s) in this news category

• Vaccine roll-out: 100 000 done, and counting, at City Press

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY

Two Durban game rangers killed in ambush shooting on Thursday

News24 reports that two municipal game rangers were shot and killed in Chatsworth, Durban, on Thursday. eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda said preliminary investigations indicated the two municipal game rangers were shot dead at the Silverglen Nature Reserve. "The two employees… died [in] a hail of bullets while sitting in a patrol vehicle. The motive for the killings is unknown at this stage and the police are still investigating," Kaunda reported. He called on the police to speed up the investigation so that those responsible for the murders could be apprehended. "We condemn the ambush attack on our game rangers who were on duty patrolling the nature reserve. Killings of this nature are not common in our natural resources and we have instructed officials to intensify safety and security in all our nature reserves. We also want to urge members of the community to come forward with any information that might lead to the apprehension of the perpetrators," Kaunda said.   The mayor also conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased.

Read the original of the report in the above regard by Nicole McCain at News24

TERS BENEFITS

Minister signs directives for extension of Ters benefits, online applications open for new claims covering periods since 15 October

BusinessLive reports that the updated directives for the extension of the Temporary Employer/Employee Covid-19 Relief Scheme (Ters) have been signed, paving the way for the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to process new claims. The UIF said on Thursday that Department of Employment & Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi had signed the directives, which were gazetted last Wednesday.   Last month President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in his state of the nation address that Ters would be extended to 15 March. It now covers the period from 15 October 2020, when the benefit originally came to an end, until March. The UIF said that after much deliberation at Nedlac, agreement was reached that the extension should cover businesses or establishments in sectors hardest hit by the lockdown such as tourism, liquor, hospitality, conferencing events and activities in related value chains. “The social partners impressed on us that we need to carefully consider other business activities that get indirectly impacted if the main business they render a service to is not operational,” acting UIF commissioner Marsha Bronkhorst advised. The UIF said according to the new directive signed by the minister the Ters benefit was only applicable to employees who contributed to the fund. Two new payment periods will be covered, the first from 16 October to 31 December 2020 and the second from 1 January to 15 March 2021. The online application system to start processing claims for the first payment iteration has already been opened, the fund said.

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

No funds for further Ters extensions beyond 15 March, says UIF

BL Premium reports that acting Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) commissioner Marsha Bronkhorst stressed in parliament on Friday that the fund would be able to afford the R15.8bn extra cost of extending the Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) to mid-March, but not beyond that date. Cosatu strongly believes the benefit should continue for as long as the national state of disaster and the restriction on business activities are in force. The labour federation, along with business, has fought hard in Nedlac for the two extensions of the benefit that have been granted. The UIF previously resisted an extension of the Ters on the grounds that this would undermine its future ability to pay statutory benefits for loss of work. Since 27 March 2020, Ters payments have cost the UIF R58.3bn with 13.7-million payments made to workers and 1.2-million employers having applied for the relief until its previous expiry date of 15 October 2020. Two new payment periods will be covered, the first from 16 October to 31 December 2020 and the second from 1 January to 15 March 2021, with applications for the first period having opened on 1 March. “At this stage the UIF has enough resources and enough assets to pay the projected increase of statutory or ordinary benefits as well as the extension of Ters up to March 15. But we should really note that we cannot continue extending Ters. The UIF’s pocket is the same as any individual’s or organisation’s – we can’t extend and pay more than we generate in terms of income,” Bronkhorst told MPs.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Linda Ensor at BusinessLive

MINING LABOUR

Kumba Iron Ore warns over 1,600 employees of potential job cuts

BL Premium reports that trade union Solidarity said on Friday that Kumba Iron Ore had issued notices of potential retrenchment to 1,620 employees. This development comes on the back of the company’s record annual operating profit.   The 70%-held Anglo American subsidiary confirmed the cuts, saying its “business transformation journey over recent years” included “a targeted organisational restructure to ensure the right work is done at the right time, in the right way by capable people in roles that are designed with clear accountabilities and authorities”.     Kumba's notification on 4 March to its unions indicated as follows:  “It is estimated that approximately 1,620 employees across the business will be affected in some way or other, however it is envisaged that 653 employees may be retrenched.”   The company employs 6,141 people after steadily reducing its staffing numbers from nearly 11,800 in 2015. “It is unfair and simply insensitive of Kumba to punish workers amid a pandemic and an excellent financial performance with increased turnover, profits and dividends declared. The rationale put forward by Kumba simply has no grounds,” said Riaan Visser, deputy general secretary for mining, agriculture and the chemical industry at Solidarity. The timing of the retrenchments could not be worse, Visser added. “With unemployment at the highest level in SA’s history, a business cannot justify such actions in any way. We will not tolerate it,” he stated.

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

Three more people arrested for torching of Palabora copper mine buildings, vehicles

News24 reports that three more people were arrested on Friday for allegedly vandalising and torching buildings and vehicles during protests outside a copper mine in Phalaborwa, Limpopo. The three people included the chairperson of a community forum. The arrests were in connection with violent protests that erupted last month at the local mine in the area where properties were torched and other properties vandalised, police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo advised. Eleven others were arrested last weekend and appeared in the Phalaborwa Magistrate's Court last Monday on charges of trespassing, arson, malicious damage to property and public violence. The three people who were arrested on Friday are expected to appear in court on Tuesday and will face same charges. The protests erupted last month after the community forum alleged that business opportunities and jobs at the Palabora copper mine went to outsiders.

Read the original of the report in the above regard by Getrude Makhafola at News24

LABOUR MARKET / EMPLOYMENT

Employment minister Thulas Nxesi says SA workers must get priority in national employment policy

BL Premium reports that the government is proceeding with the formulation of a controversial policy to govern the employment of foreign workers, especially in low-skill jobs, to give priority to South Africans. Employment & Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi told MPs on Friday that a national employment policy with a sub-theme of a labour migration policy was being developed in conjunction with the Department of Home Affairs and would be ready for submission to cabinet soon. Nxesi said: “The [labour migration] policy talks to the issue of recruitment from outside the country especially when you talk about low-skilled jobs. We must expect a big debate on this one. What we will not do is to run away from our responsibility to protect our citizens.” He added that with the unemployment rate especially among youth sitting where it was, “there was no way that the government could not intervene.   What is very clear is that it can’t be that at low level skill areas you take all foreigners or foreign nationals at the expense of the South Africans and disrespecting the labour laws.”   Different options were being looked at including quotas, but Nxesi said the policy would not be a one-size fits all one. Each and every sector would be looked at differently. He advised that an inter-ministerial committee had been set up by President Cyril Ramaphosa to do the work. Nxesi also claimed that employers deliberately preferred foreign workers because they were cheap labour — “they are ready to take anything” — and neglected South Africans.

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

Stats SA study finds that more and more people moving to find work or start businesses

News24 reports that more and more people have been moving inside and into SA for work as opposed to moving for a job that they had already secured. Diego Iturralde, chief director of demography and population statistics at Statistics SA, told an Institute for Security Studies (ISS) webinar last week that about one in five internal migrants and about one in three immigrants moved to look for work, or to start a business. Between 2012 and 2017, the years for which such statistics were available, immigrants were also the highest proportion of those who did not complete school, although they also had more tertiary qualifications than those in SA who didn't move at all. While employment for everyone decreased between 2012 and 2017, among immigrants 81.6% were employed in 2017 while 74.2% of internal migrants and 70.9% of non-movers had jobs. The study also found that most immigrants were employed in jobs that could not be classified as decent work, meaning they had no trade union membership, pensions or unemployment insurance or employment contracts. More than half of all migrants worked in SA’s informal sector. More migrants moved to Gauteng than to the Western Cape, which was the second most popular province when it came to migration. "The informal economy is an unprotected sector with little to no safety nets. Covid-19 presented particular challenges to those working in that sector," Iturralde said. Sergio Carciotto from the ISS, who did a study recommending ways in which SA policy could deal with labour migration, said growing anti-immigrant sentiments were "exacerbated by the current economic situation and financial hardship and unemployment". *

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carien du Plessis at News24

STAFF RETRENCHMENTS / JOB CUTS

Parliament rubbishes EFF’s claims it will retrench 'thousands' of its employees

News24 reports that Parliament has rubbished claims by the EFF that plans are afoot to retrench "thousands of workers" at the legislative arm of government. In a statement on Friday, the party alleged the acting secretary of Parliament, Baby Tyawa, had disclosed that workers were going to be retrenched. This was said to be revealed at a meeting of the Joint Standing Committee on the Financial Management of Parliament, where Tyawa said Parliament was short of more than R500 million just to retain the staff compliment and would therefore "effect voluntary severance packages to force staff members out". According to the EFF, "Parliament argues that this is as a result of severe cuts to their budget, imposed by the National Treasury." Parliament’s spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said the EFF's claims were patently erroneous and misleading. "Parliament is currently engaging with National Treasury with a view to introducing a similar process to the one that was implemented in the public service of voluntary early retirement. The EFF has falsely claimed without any shred of evidence that Parliament plans to retrench thousands of workers. Voluntary early retirement is not the same as mass retrenchment.” Mothapo added that several employees, who were close to retirement age, had already indicated their willingness to take up the opportunity to retire early if it was offered. Mothapo said despite the budget cut, Parliament was not in a crisis that would warrant such drastic intervention as claimed by the EFF.

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Alex Mitchley at News24

SUSPENSIONS

Eskom’s De Ruyter assures MPs that suspension of procurement chief will not hobble department

Fin24 reports that Eskom CEO André de Ruyter told MPs on Friday that the suspension of the power utility's chief procurement officer, Solly Tshitangano, would not compromise Eskom's ability to stay on top of its procurement deviations and expansions. Tshitangano was suspended for poor performance. On Wednesday, his suspension was explained to Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) by an Eskom delegation. However, on the same day, it was also revealed that Tshitangano had sent a letter to the committee containing allegations against De Ruyter. Among other things, the CEO was accused of having flouted procurement guidelines. Scopa announced on Wednesday that it would be probing the claims against De Ruyter.   MPs asked De Ruyter about the consequences of Tshitangano's suspension, to which he replied that Eskom's procurement unit had ample skills and capacity to ensure that the utility stayed on top of procurement. "The suspension of the CPO will not create a gap in this area. We have capable people who will be able to deal with the approvals that we get from National Treasury, so I do not anticipate that we will have any difficulty in this regard," said De Ruyter. Also present at the Friday meeting, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan said corruption was still a feature within Eskom itself and that, with over 3 000 people currently involved in Eskom's procurement system, it would take some time for management to clean up .

Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24