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 early morning roundup, see summaries
of our selection of recent South African labour-
labour-related reports.
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Senzo Mchunu desperate for resolution to deadlocked public service wage negotiations TimesLIVE reports that with public service wage talks deadlocked for months, Department of Public Service & Administration (DPSA) Minister Senzo Mchunu has pleaded with labour unions to return to the negotiating table. This after government at the weekend tabled a revised offer, including a 1.5% increase plus a R1,000 cash allowance, resulting in an effective 11.7% increase for the lowest-paid public servants. It had previously offered a R978 cash gratuity for a year. Several unions are said to have walked out of the talks after the government's failure to table an offer they found satisfactory. Some of the unions have threatened to strike. Speaking to journalists during a virtual briefing, Mchunu said though there had been some progress in the talks, other issues had since come up. He went on to indicate: “We want to note and raise concern that at some point, for some reason, there are unions that for their own considered reasons decided to leave the negotiations. We respect each and every labour organisations that is involved in the public service, we respect their decision but we want to take this opportunity to implore them, to make a direct request that they reconsider their position and possibly go back to the chamber together with all of us to try to find one another and correct what is not correct.” The minister said he was not oblivious to the fact that the government’s offer was not satisfactory to the unions, but reiterated the importance of negotiating. The new offer was confirmed on Sunday by the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC), which said that unions would be seeking a mandate from their members on the revised offer. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nonkululeko Njilo at TimesLIVE 'Positive response' to new public sector wage offer, which includes R1,000 cash payment Fin24 reports that ahead of a possible public sector strike as early as this week, Public Service and Administration Minister Senzo Mchunu has urged unions to consider a new offer. The new offer will increase wages by 1.5% and includes a monthly R1,000 cash allowance. For the lowest-paid public servants (level 1 workers), this will mean an 11.7% pay adjustment, the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) has indicated. Last week, unions affiliated with Cosatu tabled a demand of a 2% salary adjustment and a R1,500 monthly gratuity. But Mugwena Maluleke, general secretary of the SA Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu) and spokesperson for the Cosatu-affiliated unions involved in the negotiations, said the union had so far received "positive responses" to the new offer from its membership. He said it was encouraging that government had moved from an offer that would have meant no wage hike whatsoever, to the current offer. The Public Servants Association (PSA) is currently waiting for the results of its ballot, which could trigger a strike by more than 225,000 public servants throughout the country. The union left the bargaining council weeks ago and declared a dispute with government. PSA spokesperson Reuben Maleka said while the union had not been formally notified of the latest offer, it expected to get more clarity on it during the PSCBC’s meeting scheduled for Tuesday. He indicated that there was a possible return to the negotiations. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sibongile Khumalo and Khulekani Magubane at Fin24 Costs of cash sweetener offered to public servants will have to be sliced from departmental budgets BL Premium reports that according to national Treasury, a cash offer to government employees, which was improved upon last week, will cost the government some R18bn that has not been budgeted for. So the shortfall will have to be sliced from departmental budgets to avoid busting the fiscal framework. In wage talks on Friday, the government made an improved offer to public sector unions for the 2021/2022 year. It included a 1.5% pay progression increase (an increase linked to years of service) and a monthly cash gratuity on a sliding scale of between R1,220 and R1,695. The sliding scale will ensure that all employees receive R1,000 after tax. While the 1.5% pay progression is factored into budget projections for the next three years, the cash gratuity is not. Treasury acting head of the budget office Edgar Sishi said the previous offer made to unions for a R987 gratuity would cost about R14bn and the increased version would add another R4bn to R5bn. Sishi said in an interview: “Our approach has been to recommend to the ministers involved in negotiations that employees receive the 1.5% and no more. However, if for any reason at a political level the view was that more was required to reach an agreement then whatever that offer was would require sacrificing other things to pay for it. There is no way we could bust the fiscal framework for public servants. That would be a fiscal choice that is negative.” Briefing the media on Monday, public service & administration minister Senzo Mchunu described the offer as “reasonable” under the circumstances. Mchunu calimed the government was “operating within the fiscal framework [and] we won’t deviate from that. Where we will get the money after signing the agreement, we will discuss and find a solution to that.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carol Paton and Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (paywall access only) Samwu says it intends to strike over wage deadlock Pretoria News reports that the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) is set to declare a dispute and request a strike certificate after wage negotiations collapsed. The union said wage negotiations for municipal workers under the auspices of the SA Local Government Bargaining Council collapsed as a result of the continued “arrogance” of the SA Local Government Association (Salga), which represents the country’s 257 municipalities. Samwu indicated that with negotiations having failed to yield results, members have gone back to their original demands for a single year’s wage agreement; a R4,000 salary increase for all workers under the auspices of the bargaining council; a R15,000 sectoral minimum wage; and a R3,500 housing allowance for all workers. The demands also include a number of other issues. Samwu’s Dumisane Magagula said the facilitator in the bargaining council did a good job, but after an extensive mandate-taking process by the union, a majority of its members rejected the proposal and found it to be a repetition of the employer’s arguments. “The proposal failed to consider the demands that had been put forward by workers. It should be mentioned that all parties, including Samwu and the other trade union Imatu rejected the facilitator’s proposal,” Magagula advised. Read the original of the report in the above regard by James Mahlokwane at Pretoria News. Read too, Local government wage dispute hits bump as talks with labour break down, at Fin24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Retail workers are at the frontline, must be prioritised for Covid-19 jab, say experts The Citizen reports that according to experts, government’s Covid-19 vaccine plan should include retail workers, who remain among the most vulnerable considering their essential service of interacting with customers, which has continued throughout the lockdown. The Covid-19 vaccination programme’s priority strategy is targeting the most essential and vulnerable, starting with frontline healthcare workers and over 60s, moving to teachers, over 50s, and now members of the police force. Yet, it seems government has forgotten other essential workers, such as retail workers and others who have ensured our shelves stay stocked and our food supply is secure, said Professor Alex van den Heever of Wits University. He pointed out that the people who have to come to work and who can’t work from home and have to interact with other people are the high-risk people. “It doesn’t matter whether private sector or public sector – we need people in the retail sector and they are highly vulnerable. They have to travel by taxi to and from work – so they are a priority,” Van den Heever argued. And it is not only retail workers, but anyone whose job is to keep the economy afloat, including taxi drivers, retail workers, and mine workers, who should be higher up on the waiting list, said Professor Glenda Gray, president of the SA Medical Research Council . Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Rorisang Kgosana at The Citizen (paywall access only) Provinces race against time to vaccinate as many education sector staff as possible EWN reports that with only two days before the end of the vaccination programme for teachers, provinces are trying to vaccinate as many staff members as possible. According to the Department of Basic Education, over 333,000 teachers and support staff have been vaccinated since 23 June. To reach the target of 582,000, authorities are urging staff to head to vaccination sites by Thursday. The Western Cape Department of Education said over 50% of vaccines allocated have been administered to more than 28,000 school staff members. Spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the remainder would head to various sites across the province over the next two days. “Head office and independent school staff have now been dedicated spaces. Some of our smaller rural sites have now closed due to those areas being covered with the metro sites now taking in approximately 1,000 to 1,600 recipients per day,” Hammond indicated. The Eastern Cape Department of Education's Mali Mtima said more than 66% of the over 75,000 employees targeted had been vaccinated. “All sites are vaccinating all outstanding governing body appointed educators, including independent school educators on site,” he said. The Northern Cape has also managed to vaccinate 50%, but in Gauteng there's some vaccine hesitancy and the department last week indicated that over 9,000 did not want the jabs. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Kaylynn Palm at EWN. Read too, Basic education department urges teachers to get vaccine before programme ends, at EWN Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Access to City Power’s offices blockaded on Monday by protestors demanding jobs News24 reports that scores of City Power employees were left stranded on Monday morning when a group of protesters denied them access to their building. Workers stood next to their vehicles outside their offices in Booysens, Johannesburg, while a group of unemployed demonstrators demanded employment. They claimed that they were among scores of people who had applied for 200 trade assistant positions that had been advertised, but that the electricity entity had failed to employ them as promised. They also alleged that the entity employed people who had not applied and that some candidates had paid R3,500 each to skip the queue and secure employment. City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena confirmed that they advertised 200 trade assistant posts in May and said about 9,000 CVs were received. Only those who met the requirements for the positions wrote the assessment tests, on the basis of which the successful candidates were selected and appointed. Mangena added that some of the protesters were employees of contractors linked to City Power. "They are of the view that we shouldn't have advertised the posts but absorb them since they are already working for City Power, albeit indirectly. We indicated to them that it is impossible and unlawful because we still have contractors working for us, and we can't poach their employees," said Mangena. City Power is probing the allegations of nepotism. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24
Court battle looms over junior doctor placements News24 reports that a court battle between the Department of Health (DOH) and over 300 unplaced medical interns is looming. The DOH was served with a letter of demand on Thursday, giving it until Monday to provide community service placements. The letter, sent by Mabuza Attorneys, was on behalf of 465 doctors. Of this total, 298 are qualified medical doctors, six of whom are foreign nationals and 292 are South African. The second group is made up of 167 community service doctors. The letter states: "Our clients were meant to commence their internship and community service today, 1 July 2021. However, to date, the Department has failed to place them. To that end, we are instructed to demand, as we hereby do, that all our clients be placed no later than 16:00 on Monday, 5 July 2021. Failing which, we hold instructions to seek urgent relief against the Department and its officials, including an order for punitive costs." The letter of demand came after the DOH blamed the delay with placements on funding shortfalls and the need for ongoing consultations about additional posts with National Treasury and provincial health departments. According to attorney Matthew Yeko, who is spearheading the litigation, they have heard nothing from the DOH since the letter was sent. The DOH acknowledged the frustration expressed by the medical graduates and appealed for patience. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marvin Charles at News24
Prasa chief unpacks crime mitigation strategy to revive passenger rail network Engineering News reports that the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to revive SA’s passenger rail network, which has been left crippled by crime and vandalism over the last few years. CEO Zolani Matthews addressed delegates virtually during the 2021 Southern African Transport Conference on 5 July. He expressed confidence that key rail corridors could be secured by partnering with all rail stakeholders, namely commuters, communities and businesses. Matthews outlined an eight-point plan for Prasa subsidiary Metrorail to address criminal activity and minimise disruptions to commuter services. An innovative part of the plan involves forming cooperatives with communities along rail corridors to provide cleaning services at stations. Communities will be empowered with training and business management skills by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. “We have already seen that the stations where workers are located helps to provide protection from vandalism and theft,” said Matthews. He added that these stations consistently adhered to cleanliness standards and provided employment for youth and women, creating inclusive growth and participation in the economy. This created a sense of ownership and pride for communities. Matthews advised that renewal initiatives would prioritise ten urban rail corridors in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape for major rehabilitation and recovery. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News Malmesbury train route closed temporarily due to a Covid-19 emergency in Transnet’s train control centre Cape Argus reports that Metrorail has had to pause its weekday train services between Cape Town and Malmesbury for this week due to a Covid-related matter. The train operates via Monte Vista, Bellville, Kraaifontein and stops at Fisantekraal, Melish, Mikpunt, Klipheuwel, Wintervogel Kalbaskraal and Abbotsdale. In explaining the closure, Metrorail spokesperson Riana Scott said there was a reciprocal agreement between the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) and Transnet to operate on one another’s networks. “The rail network owner for the line north of Kraaifontein to Worcester and beyond is Transnet. The Malmesbury train is a daily return train between Malmesbury and Cape Town - one inbound in the morning, and the return outbound in the afternoon. We rely on Transnet for this service although we use our trains. They have a Covid-19 emergency in their train control centre which required that their protocols be followed,” Scott indicated. She added that “as soon as they are able to resume, the service will resume”, which is expected to be on 9 July. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at Cape Argus Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Petrol price to hit record high on 7 July BusinessLive reports that the petrol price will reach a record high when major hikes come into effect on Wednesday. In a blow to motorists, the central energy fund (CEF) announced that the retail price of 95 octane petrol will rise by 26c a litre and 93 octane by 29c, while the wholesale price of diesel will increase by 41c for low-sulphur 50ppm and by 42c for 500ppm. Illuminating paraffin will increase by 36c/l. Fom 7 July, the inland price of 95 octane petrol will be a record R17.39/l, from a previous high of R17.32/l in April. At the coast, 95-octane petrol will rise to R16.67/l. The hikes are unexpectedly high given that earlier this month and based on unaudited mid-month figures, the Automobile Association forecast a 6c/l decrease for petrol in July and a 20c increase for diesel. Rising oil prices drove the latest increases, which the rand’s appreciation against the dollar was not enough to offset. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at BusinessLive. Read too, Motorists to feel the pinch as petrol and diesel set to increase this week, at Independent Media
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