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 morning roundup, see summaries
of our selection of recent South African labour-
labour-related reports.
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Afrobarometer survey shows that four out of 10 ‘very unlikely’ to get vaccinated against coronavirus BL Premium reports that survey released on Wednesday by research network Afrobarometer shows that more than 50% of South Africans say they are unlikely to try to get vaccinated against the coronavirus and almost as many believe prayer offers better protection than a jab. The results offer some insight into why registration rates and take-up of the vaccine have been lower than anticipated in some communities, despite the coronavirus cases and deaths reported. By Tuesday, SA had registered 2.39-million cases and more than 70,000 fatalities, a figure widely acknowledged to underrepresent the true scale of deaths due to Covid-19. The Medical Research Council has estimated the number is about triple the official figure. Afrobarometer’s partners, the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) and Plus 94 Research, conducted the survey in May and June. Interviews were conducted with 1,600 respondents, and the results were nationally representative. The survey period coincided with the start of the government’s mass vaccination drive on 17 May. More than half of the respondents said they were either very unlikely (42%) or somewhat unlikely (12%) to try to get vaccinated against Covid-19, with just 46% indicating a willingness to seek a jab. The findings stand in marked contrast to several other surveys that reported higher levels of vaccine acceptance. IJR researcher Mikhail Moosa cautioned against direct comparison between the surveys, noting differences in methodology and the framing of questions. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at BusinessLive (paywall access only) Education department denies 'no jab, no job’, says no teacher compelled to get Covid-19 vaccination News24 reports that according to the Department of Basic Education (DBE), at no stage has it compelled employees to be vaccinated for Covid-19. On Wednesday, the department referred to news reports regarding a circular, signed by Director-General Mathanzima Mweli, that it had distributed on 23 July and said these reports were "misleading and misinformation". "The 'no jab, no job' narrative emanating from an article carried in a Johannesburg-based newspaper earlier this week has seemingly created confusion and fear among educators," the DBE stated. The department noted that the circular had strongly recommended that its workers be vaccinated, but at no stage did it seek to compel them. It said the circular had been to provide guidance regarding the operational requirements for educators employed in terms of the Employment of Educators Act of 1998, following the implementation of the sector's vaccination programme. The DBE explained further: "The circular also serves as a guide to managing vulnerable employees in the context of the current pandemic. The department has strongly recommended that education sector personnel should get vaccinated, but at no stage did DBE seek to compel employees to be vaccinated. In fact, in the circular, the department says that 'it respects the rights of educator who opt not to be vaccinated on constitutional, religious, cultural, comorbidity or medical grounds'." Schools reopened on Monday for the third term. The department's drive has managed to vaccinate more than 517,000 workers out of 582,000. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sesona Ngqakamba at News24 Labour director-general says risk assessments on pandemic and vaccinations must be concluded with employees Fin24 reports that at a briefing on Wednesday afternoon following meetings that the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) had held with the National Economic Development and Labour Council, DEL director-general Thobile Lamati said if an employer has concluded risk assessments on the pandemic and vaccination with employees, the department could not intervene to stop an employer from disciplining or dismissing employees for refusing to be vaccinated. "When the employers do a risk assessment, they must talk to employees and make them understand the risks in their work and the controls that must be developed with employees. The question of whether employers can force employees is difficult as a worker cannot be compelled to take a vaccine when they have not been told about the risks associated with it," said Lamati. He added that the DEL would not want to entertain the dismissal of a worker for refusing a vaccine as any violation of agreed-upon conditions at work could lead to disciplinary action in the workplace. Read the original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24 (scroll down) Glencore starts vaccinating South African staff against Covid-19 infections Mining Weekly reports that diversified miner Glencore Operations SA has started vaccinating its staff members who are 50 years and older. The company has already managed to reach hundreds of employees with its Covid-19 vaccine rollout, which started on the morning of 26 July, at the Waterval East mine, near Rustenburg. “For us, at Glencore, this is a very proud moment as we pride ourselves in driving solutions and meaningful impact in South African communities. Glencore will continue to display true commitment to the communities in which we operate in and provide sustainable solutions that will combat the issues our communities face, while building resilient communities with our various initiatives that aim to empower and create opportunities during and beyond the global pandemic,” said Glencore Ferroalloys CEO Japie Fullard. He added that the Glencore vaccine rollout was “a true testament to the company’s commitment and that it will continue to pioneer change and development in and around its operations.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Mboweni and Mogajane announce R36.2bn in new economic support following unrest Moneyweb reports that on Wednesday, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni and National Treasury director-general Dondo Mogajane revealed a new financial support package of some R36.2 billion in the wake of the recent unrest and destruction to property in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng. They were joined by SA Special Risk Insurance Association (Sasria) and SA Revenue Service (Sars) bosses in a briefing regarding the new package. It follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement on Sunday that further support measures by government were in the works for South Africans and businesses amid the continuing impact of Covid-19 and recent unrest in the country. The overall package will not only cover insurance claims from affected businesses, but also go towards funding additional social relief for poor South Africans as well as see additional funding for the police and the SA National Defence Force (SANDF). Mboweni said that the recent riots and destruction in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and certain other areas in SA had had “a major impact on the country’s economic recovery trajectory” especially in the context of Covid-19. He condemned the “violent acts of destruction” and added that government “can’t sit back and needs to do something”. Thus, the new economic support package has been announced together with other measures to curb the unrest, including the deployment of further police and SANDF troops in the affected areas. It is estimated that between R15 billion to R20 billion in insurance claims will be met between Sasria and National Treasury. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Suren Naidoo at Moneyweb. Read too, Tax bonanza — not debt — will pay for R39bn relief, at BusinessLive (paywall access only) Grants unsustainable, labour regulations must be scrapped, says Solidarity Trade union Solidarity has strongly criticised the government’s efforts to find solutions to the economic crisis in which SA currently finds itself. This was indicated following the briefing on Wednesday by the Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni, on the economic support package recently announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa. According to Solidarity, the making available of more funds to be able to afford the R350 allowance for the unemployed was unsustainable and would in fact put more pressure on the economy and increase the burden on the whole of SA. The union said the larger than expected tax revenue was still less than what was needed to balance the ordinary budget of the state and could rather be used for that purpose. Theuns du Buisson, Economics Researcher at Solidarity, commented: “What the government is doing with its support packages is to keep people alive on debt instead of creating a better future for them. What it should rather do is enable people to thrive. This can only happen if the right climate is created where an economy can grow so that jobs can be more readily available. By immediately relaxing its labour regulations and doing away with restrictive regulations and ideologies such as the minimum wage and black economic empowerment, this will be possible.” According to Du Buisson the tax deferral that has been announced was a welcome lifeline for struggling businesses. However, he contended that the temporary relief might be too little to solve the problem. Read Solidarity’s press statement on this matter at Solidarity News Labour Minister says UIF directive is in the works to help employees of looted businesses Fin24 reports that Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) Minister Thulas Nxesi says his department will soon develop and issue a directive for the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to assist employees who have lost their jobs due to the recent unrest that rocked SA. Nxesi was briefing reporters on Wednesday following meetings held by the DEL with Nedlac. This came as the UIF reintroduced the Covid-19 Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) earlier this week. Nxesi said under level 4 of the national lockdown, the UIF Covid-19 Ters had been extended with a fund of R5.3 billion, and applications had opened on Monday. He advised that part of the available funds would now go towards assisting employees who lost their jobs due to the unrest. Nxesi also said the DEL would draft a directive to ensure that workers who did not qualify for UIF or Ters could access benefits, and this could occur as soon as this week. "The department is committed to assisting workers affected by events in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. According to our estimates, 75,000 employees have been affected by the destruction in the two provinces. This could lead to temporary layoffs or outright retrenchments," Nxesi said. However, he added, qualifying criteria would be strict and it would not be “a free-for-all”. Data was being compiled on businesses affected by unrest and the DEL would be able to reveal a benefit calculation in the directive. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24. Read too, UIF sets aside R5.3bn to assist workers and firms hit by unrest, at BusinessLive (paywall access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Five arrested for murder of two North West policemen found dead in burnt-out patrol vehicle News24 reports that five suspects were arrested by the Hawks in the early hours of Wednesday in Logageng village in the North West for their alleged involvement in the murder of two Mareetsane police officers. Hawks spokesperson Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso advised that on Monday at around 21:00, Constable Simon Ngakaemang Ntsekeletsa and Sergeant Mojalefa Horatius Molete were on patrol in a state vehicle when they came across a vehicle loaded with suspected stolen goats. They reported the matter said that they would soon be bringing the suspect's vehicle to the police station, but they never arrived and they could not be reached on their cellphones or the police radio. A manhunt for the police officers was launched. On Tuesday, police were alerted by community members of blood stains on the road leading to the police station. "When the scene was visited, a knife and a police badge belonging to one of the deceased was found and a second badge was found near Mareetsane Road. Further investigations led the team to a burnt state vehicle wherein the bodies of the deceased police officers were discovered," said Rikhotso. When the suspects were traced arrested they were allegedly found in possession of a 9mm pistol that had been taken from the slain police officers. A hammer, clothing with suspected blood stains and a vehicle were seized for further investigation. The suspects will appear on 30 July in the Ganyesa Magistrate's Court on charges of murder, malicious damage to property and possession of a stolen firearm. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kaveel Singh at News24. Lees ook, Vyf vas vir polisiemoorde, by Maroela Media
Numsa rejects Seifsa’s wage offer and declares a deadlock Engineering News reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has declared a deadlock in wage negotiations with the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa). Seifsa reported in a statement on Wednesday on a bargaining council meeting, facilitated by a senior CCMA commissioner, which had been held earlier that day with labour unions Numsa, Solidarity, Uasa, Mewusa and the Saewa. The meeting ended with Numsa registering a deadlock in response to Seifsa’s offer. Seifsa stated that the conditional offer presented to the unions had been based on a three year window “with increases in year 1 being linked to a 4.4% increment linked to CPI and in year 2022 receiving a guaranteed increase of CPI plus 0.5% and in 2023 CPI plus 1%.” As part of the proposed agreement, “a special phase-in dispensation has been formulated and will be made available to employers who are currently paying below the current minimum rates and are not members of an employer organisation that is a party to the main agreement, on the proviso that any such employer can prove membership of an employer organisation that is a party to this settlement agreement.” According to Seifsa, while Numsa registered its deadlock, the other trade unions did not, for the time being, follow suit. “All the trade unions in today’s (Wednesday’s) session have indicated their willingness and availability to continue negotiations with a view to finding common ground,” said Seifsa, which added that it would report back to its council on 2 August and take a view of the best possible way forward. Read the original of the short report in the above regard at Engineering News. Read Seifsa’s press statement on this matter at Seifsa News
Protest over unpaid wages leads to stand-off between private security and construction workers in Sandton News24 reports that a labour dispute, allegedly over unpaid wages, led to a stand-off between private security and construction workers in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Wednesday. A private security company, Scorpion Risk Holdings, was called out to the Sandton premises due to a labour dispute between workers and a contractor. "As we arrived, the rioters basically attacked us and assaulted our members. One of our members was stabbed with a knife on the right side of the chest, and he was rushed to Morningside Clinic. He is stable," CEO Riaan Erasmus reported. He claimed the protesting workers allegedly took possession of a firearm, loaded with rubber bullets, but it was later retrieved by law enforcement. One of the workers on the scene said they were protesting because they had not been paid for two months. He confirmed that there had been an altercation between the private security and the workers. The management, said to be inside the premises negotiating a resolution, did not speak to the media. The Johannesburg Metro Police Department's Wayne Minnaar, reported: “There [was] a protest in Benmore Road, in Sandton, where construction workers have been protesting because of allegations of no payment of salaries. There was an assault on one of the security guards, who was injured and taken to Morningside Clinic." Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Canny Maphanga at News24 EFF march to Pretoria old age home over alleged unfair labour practices leads to tense stand-off News24 reports that a march to an old age home in Pretoria turned tense on Wednesday following a heated stand-off between residents, an Afrikaner group and the EFF. Around 100 members of the EFF marched to the Huis Herfsblaar retirement home in Queenswood to protest over what it called racism and unfair labour practices. While the EFF were marching, a number of residents and members of the Bittereinders, led by pop singer Steve Hofmeyr's son Devon, gathered outside an open field adjacent to the old age home. As the EFF arrived, the residents and Bittereinders formed a barricade in the middle of the road just past the old age home. The EFF, who were not obstructed by the group at the gates of the old age home, then decided that they would walk through the community blockade. A line of police officers stood between the two groups as insults, some of which were racial, were hurled at one another. Both groups made threats of violence. After the tense stand-off, the EFF moved back to Huis Herfsblaar, where they delivered a memorandum of demands. The EFF accused the old age home of unfair discrimination, including that black workers were passed up for promotions, compelled to speak Afrikaans, and had less annual leave than their white counterparts. They demanded full compliance of labour legislation; the immediate termination of the security guards hired by the old age home following a strike by workers; and open engagement with the employer on behalf of the employees. Huis Herfsblaar had earlier in the month obtained an interdict against some of the workers for the unlawful strike action. The old age home accepted the memorandum. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Alex Mitchley and view a video at News24 Read too, EFF protest at Huis Herfsblaar retirement home demanding fair treatment of black staff, at Pretoria News. En ook, Aftreeoord bekom interdik teen stakers, by Maroela Media
Complaint submitted by Solidarity to UN against government’s racial policy Trade union Solidarity on Wednesday lodged a complaint against the SA government’s racial policy with the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). If Solidarity’s complaint is successful, the government will have to change its policy of affirmative action. According to the union, the complaint against the government stems from a long process. In 2015, Solidarity submitted a report to CERD stating that the government did not comply with the UN’s International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racism. This led CERD to make a recommendation criticising the current government’s racial classification that is similar to apartheid. Following CERD’s recommendation, the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) found in a report that the Employment Equity Act should be amended. However, the government has not taken action to implement the CERD recommendation or the SAHRC’s finding. “The fact that the government persists with its racial policy, despite CERD’s and the SAHRC’s reports, puts Solidarity in a very strong position to challenge the government’s racial policy at the UN. South Africa undersigns the UN Convention against racism. The country is therefore obliged to adjust its legislation accordingly,” Dr Dirk Hermann, Chief Executive Officer of Solidarity, pointed out. Read Solidarity’s press statement in the above regard at Solidarity News. Read the complaint in full here. Lees ook, Klag oor regering se rassebeleid ingedien, by Maroela Media
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