In our early morning roundup, see summaries
of our selection of recent South African labour-
labour-related reports.
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Mounting calls for government to reopen UIF’s Covid-19 Ters scheme The Citizen reports that there are mounting calls for the government to reopen the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s (UIF’s) Covid-19 Temporary Employer-Employee Relief (Ters) scheme for businesses and workers that won’t be able to operate over the next 14 days. Labour federation Cosatu and the Democratic Alliance (DA) have challenged the government to avail Ters funds in the wake of the Level 4 lockdown announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday evening. They say the tougher lockdown will deal a devastating blow to many enterprises in the liquor industry, the restaurant and hospitality sectors, as well as in the tourism, wedding and conferencing sectors. Cosatu’s Bheki Ntshalintshali said that the government needed to find funds to help affected industries, adding that it might not be a legal obligation but remained a moral obligation. “For as long as the government prevents people from participating in the economy, it has a duty to mitigate the devastating economic impact with financial assistance,” said the DA’s Michael Cardo. The DA called on the Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi, to communicate with the public on the matter urgently. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siyanda Ndlovu at The Citizen Liquor industry bodies mulling legal action against government’s fourth ban on liquor sales News24 reports that foretelling job losses and the demise of small businesses, liquor industry bodies are considering legal action against the government’s decision to ban alcohol sales for the fourth time since SA’s Covid-19 lockdown began nearly 15 months ago. The Beer Association of SA (BASA), which represents the Craft Brewers' Association, Heineken SA and SA Breweries (SAB), said on Sunday it "is seeking legal advice on national government’s inexplicable decision to implement a fourth alcohol ban ... in the interest of protecting jobs and livelihoods". BASA indicated: “"As others have pointed out, there is a vaccine against Covid-19, but not against poverty ... Many more businesses will now find themselves on the brink of closure as a result of the latest 14-day ban and no financial relief being made available by government. On the other hand, the latest ban is cause for celebration when it comes to the illicit alcohol industry, which cost the national fiscus R11.3 billion last year alone.” Business Unity SA’s Martin Kingston expressed the hope that the new ban wouldn't affect companies' major investment decisions. He said while relieving the pressure of infections on hospitals was integral, so too was finding a way to prevent small and medium businesses from taking a significant financial hit. The National Liquor Traders said the ban decision was made without consulting taverners "who will be deprived of an income without any financial safety net". The SA Liquor Brand Owners' Association’s (Salba’s) Sibani Mngadi claimed that government did not take into account its proposals to "help to preserve our beleaguered economy". Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ahmed Areff at News24. Read too, Ban on alcohol sales a huge blow to industry hard hit by Covid-19 lockdowns, at BusinessLive (paywall access only). And also, Biervereniging wil hernieude drankverbod beveg, at Maroela Media With no Ters and no support, ‘restaurants will be destroyed', while deliveries won't save us, industry warns Fin24 reports when President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday that SA would move to more stringent level 4 lockdown regulations, he indicated that until 11 July restaurants and other eateries would only be permitted to sell food for takeaway or delivery. "This is because it is not possible for patrons to wear masks while eating or drinking in these establishments," Ramaphosa explained. This will be big blow for the embattled sector, which has been among the worst affected during the pandemic. After having to close their doors at the end of March in 2020, they were allowed to open for takeaways in May. Only in mid-June could they open for sit-down meals, but recurring alcohol bans, and continued hesitancy among patrons, have starved them from income. "Yet again, restaurant will be the hardest hit, with no discussions, no Ters [Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme], no financial support," lamented Wendy Alberts, of the Restaurant Association of SA (RASA). She warned that the number of restaurants forced to close their doors have reached the "thousands" since lockdown started last year, and that the latest restriction might be the final blow to many eateries. Deliveries would not save restaurants given the large commissions they needed to pay third-party delivery groups, Alberts added. She said it was critical for restaurants to get more legal protection against claims from their banks and landlords during the move to level 4, which might include lease and debt service deferments. The latest data from Statistics SA show that restaurants' income from food and beverages in February was still 30% below pre-pandemic levels. In January, their income was half that of the same month in 2020. Read the full original of the report in the above regard compiled by Helena Wasserman at Fin24 As lockdown level 4 brings winter holidays forward, schools to reopen on 19 July Independent Media reports that Department of Basic Education (DBE) Minister Angie Motshekga has advised that private and public schools will close on Wednesday, with 19 July marked as the new return date for learners. On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the country would move to level 4 of the risk-adjusted lockdown from Monday. Level 4 means the winter school holidays, which were scheduled in a week, will be brought forward to Wednesday, 30 June. The minister said teaching would end on Wednesday, teachers and management would wrap up on Thursday and Friday, and by Friday all schools would be closed. The only school-related activities that will be allowed are winter learning programmes organised by provinces for Grade 11 and 12 learners. Motshekga reported that vaccination of the education sector was on track to be completed by Wednesday next week. The department aims to vaccinate 582,000 education sector workers against Covid-19. So far, more than 200,000 people have been vaccinated, most of them in KwaZulu-Natal where more than 60,000 of its education sector workers have received the jab. Motshekga indicated that vaccinations would continue while schools were closed. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Zintle Mahlati at Independent Media. Read too, Public schools to reopen on 19 July, says Motshekga, at The Citizen Domestic workers hit by Covid-19 blues Cape Argus reports that Sweep South revealed on Sunday how domestic workers have felt the wrath of the Covid-19 pandemic – with depression being a common diagnosis. In its fourth annual report, Sweep South surveyed pay and working conditions for domestic workers in SA, Kenya, and Nigeria. Job losses were among the primary effects in all three countries. In Kenya and Nigeria, two in five domestic workers lost their jobs due to the pandemic, versus one in five in SA. Depression was the most common diagnosis (72%), followed by anxiety (25%). Issues weighing domestic workers down ranked from unemployment (52%) to debt (25%), and family problems (15%). The survey found SA’s working conditions to be better than those in the other two countries. “South Africa has laid down extensive protections specific to domestic workers. Kenya has followed suit in some areas, but Nigeria’s regulations are not as extensive as those in SA or Kenya,” the report indicates. Sweep South’s Aisha Pandor commented: “As for basic living costs, the pandemic’s economic fallout has had a devastating effect on domestic workers’ livelihoods. Their living costs are down, but it’s likely due to them sacrificing variable-cost items, like food, to stretch their earnings … Many of us would have predicted that the worst of the pandemic would be behind us a year later. However, we continue to see job losses and economic hardship for domestic workers, and even though there are some encouraging signs, the general outlook is still grim.” Cosatu’s Sizwe Phamla welcomed the report, saying: “It is testimony to our progressive labour laws that abuse levels reported in South Africa are lower than in other African countries. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thabo Makwakwa at Cape Argus. Read too, ‘Domestic workers must incur debt to survive’, at City Press (paywall access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Sibanye-Stillwater inoculates an initial 779 employees at its SA operations, offers wider assistance Mining Weekly reports that Sibanye-Stillwater has inoculated an initial 779 employees with the Covid-19 vaccine in line with the government’s roll-out strategy in SA. Sibanye received 780 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine on 24 June and inoculated the employees over a three-day period starting 25 June. This followed the group’s accreditation by the Department of Health on 23 June to administer Covid-19 vaccines at four medical facilities at its SA gold and platinum group metal operations. Sibanye has a workforce of some 82,000 people in SA and can optimally use the capacity at its medical centres to administer 18,000 vaccines a day. The producer can thus make a significant contribution to the national vaccine roll-out, not only to employees, but also to their families and doorstep communities if allocated sufficient vaccines. “We recognise the urgency of vaccinating our employees, their families and nearby communities to restrict and contain the threat of Covid-19 in South Africa, and it was extremely pleasing to see how the team pulled together on short notice, to successfully and efficiently administer this initial allocation of Covid-19 vaccines to our prioritised employees,” CEO Neal Froneman commented. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly Mineworker killed in fall-of-ground at Impala Platinum’s 16 Shaft Mining Weekly reports that according to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), a mineworker was killed in a fall-of-ground incident at Impala Platinum’s Impala Rustenburg 16 shaft on 25 June. The union noted that this brought the number of fatalities in the mining sector so far this year to 30. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at Mining Weekly Other general posting(s) relating to mining
SAA Technical staff get to go home with full pay, but Mango employees aren’t that lucky Fin24 reports that employees of low-cost state-owned airline Mango did not get salary payments for June – but fellow SA Airways (SAA) subsidiary SAA Technical (SAAT) did manage to pay full salaries for the month. An industry insider advised that SAAT managed to obtain bridge funding for salaries for May and June. SAAT is, however, undergoing a retrenchment process, which is not the case at Mango. Mango's staff have for months had either partial or late salary payments as the airline struggles for survival. The SAA board is not allowing Mango to open ticket sales longer in advance. This means flights end up with very low passenger load factors, impacting the funds that can be raised to pay salaries. Meanwhile, it is still unclear when the process to approve a Special Appropriation Bill, which will provide a lifeline for the airline, will finally be completed. The Bill will enable the transfer of R2.7 billion to SAA's subsidiaries from R10.5 billion originally allocated in the mini-budget last year to implement SAA's business rescue plan. Unlike SAA, its subsidiaries Mango, SAAT and Air Chefs, did not go into business rescue. Mango's management is apparently still trying to see if salary payments can be made by the end of the month, Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carin Smith at Fin24
SA businessman Mthunzi Mdwaba in the race for ILO director-general post BL Premium reports that a SA businessman, who has served the International Labour Organization (ILO) in senior positions for more than a decade, says improving the organisation’s governance and oversight capabilities is in the offing should he be elected as the first African to lead the body since its inception more than a century ago. Prof Mthunzi Mdwaba is the immediate past vice-president of the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) to the ILO, which is a tripartite UN special agency that deals with social justice and sets international labour standards. Mdwaba’s candidacy has been endorsed by the ANC-led government, the AU, the Sadc tripartite bloc (governments, trade unions and employers), the Southern African Trade Union Co-ordinating Council (Satucc), Cosatu, Fedusa, Nactu and others. Mdwaba is CEO of Tzoro IBC, a business consultancy in Sandton, a former vice-chair of the ILO, chair of Productivity SA and chair of the SA-Norwegian Association. The former council chair of the University of the Western Cape, and ex officio member of the Global Commission on the Future of Work, said in an interview: “Governments, workers and employers from the Global South will benefit from being led by someone from a hugely disadvantaged background. This makes me a person who has sensitivity to differences and diversity, as well as understands that crossover appeal is important to heal others and allay fears for those who are not ready to go at the same speed as others.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (paywall access only)
Two security guards dismissed for assaulting patient at Escourt Hospital in KZN The Citizen reports that two security guards caught on video assaulting an elderly patient at Escourt Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) have been dismissed by the provincial department of health. The assault took place last Thursday and the guards were initially suspended with immediate effect. The incident was apparently recorded by a nurse, who failed to intervene during the assault or report the matter to the hospital’s management. KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane condemned the incident and reported that the matter had been brought to her attention by a journalist. She commented: “It is extremely concerning that, instead of making management aware, they decided to send out the video. If they had followed processes, you’ll find that the patient might not have been assaulted as severely as they were. We hear that it might have been one of our health workers who took this video. If it is, then it is very unfortunate.” The nurse has since reportedly been placed on precautionary suspension. Read the original of the report in the above regard at The Citizen. Read too, Security guards who allegedly assaulted patient at Estcourt Hospital dismissed, at News24
Hawks arrest three former senior managers employed at Gauteng municipalities over VBS Bank billions TimesLIVE reports that three former municipal executives in Gauteng are expected to appear in court on Tuesday following their arrests in regard to the VBS Mutual Bank (VBS) scandal. A Hawks spokesperson said the trio, who were arrested on Monday, were: a 60-year-old former municipal manager in West Rand district municipality; a 37-year-old former chief financial officer from the same municipality; and a 34-year-old acting municipal manager from Merafong local municipality, who had formerly been a manager in West Rand district municipality. The arrests were based on the ongoing investigation of maladministration and corruption in the looting of VBS Mutual Bank. The trio will appear in the Pretoria specialised commercial crimes court. Their charges relate to investments into VBS Mutual Bank, which was done in contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act. A total of 20 municipalities deposited some R3.7bn, of which R2.2bn has been repaid. Some of the lost R67m was allegedly paid as brokerage commissions to entities and individuals to attract more deposits, mainly from municipalities. The Hawks investigation has revealed that VBS employees, municipal executives and other officials received gratifications for the investments made. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sipokazi Fokazi at TimesLIVE. Read too, Ex-West Rand municipality execs arrested over VBS bank corruption, at The Citizen
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