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 Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
|
Health Department to proceed with overhaul of notifiable diseases regulations, despite scraping of last coronavirus restrictions BL Premium reports that the Department of Health (DOH) is to press ahead with its controversial plans to update the regulations for managing notifiable diseases, despite scrapping SA’s last remaining coronavirus restrictions on Wednesday. The draft regulations to the National Health Act and International Health Regulations Act have drawn extensive criticism, and face legal challenge from several quarters. The deadline for public comment is 5 August. In a notice published in the government gazette on Wednesday, health minister Joe Phaahla repealed three regulations relating to the surveillance and control of notifiable conditions, opening the way for the tourism, leisure, and entertainment sectors to operate as normal. But his department’s plans for an extensive overhaul of the legislative framework for managing notifiable diseases and future pandemics remain unchanged. Masks are no longer required in indoor public settings or on public transport, limits on the size of gatherings have been scrapped, and travellers to SA no longer need to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative PCR test. Organisations such as schools, care homes and business will determine whether they wished to continue requiring masks on their premises. Trade union Solidarity welcomed the repeal of the coronavirus regulations, saying the minister’s move was a direct result of its legal challenge. Solidarity, AfriForum and other interest groups had taken the government to court over the rules, arguing they were irrational and unlawful. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Lees ook, Stryd om regulasies lank nie verby, waarsku kenners, by Maroela Media Wearing of masks in schools now optional for pupils and educators, says Angie Motshekga The Citizen reports that following government’s decision to lift all the remaining Covid-19 regulations, Department of Basic Education (DBE) Minister Angie Motshekga indicated that the wearing of masks in public schools would now be optional for pupils and educators. Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla on Wednesday issued a government notice ending Covid-19 restrictions related to the wearing of masks indoors, limitations on gatherings and checks at SA’s ports of entry. Motshekga on Thursday said the DBE supported the repealing of the remaining health regulations, however, pupils and staff who wanted to wear face masks at school could continue to do so. The minister added that her department continued to support the vaccination of all pupils aged from 12 years, with parental consent. Speaking at a briefing on Thursday, Phaahla said that as of 22 June 2022, 36,700 million vaccine doses had been administered to 20.09 million adults and 1.9 million children between the ages of 12-17 years. This meant that an average of 50.48% (about 22 million) of South Africans had at least received one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. Phaahla cautioned that the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions did not mean that the virus no longer existed. “It is still in our midst, we are just stronger than before, especially with vaccination and we urge those not yet vaccinated to come forward and those due for boosters to also come forward. The vaccination program will remain and is now being integrated into normal health services,” he indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thapelo Lekabe at The Citizen Tourism and travel organisations welcome repeal of remaining Covid-19 restrictions Engineering News reports that a range of tourism and travel organisations and businesses have welcomed the lifting of the last Covid-19 restrictions, including those that had been in place at ports of entry and those restricting the size of gatherings. Association of Southern African Travel Agents CEO Otto de Vries said the lifting of restrictions would ensure some level of normality and confidence in the market that travel was open and easy. "It will also certainly help to support the recovery of the sector. We are also delighted on the part of our members who are involved in events, particularly sport and business events, as the restrictions severely impacted on their ability to recover in a meaningful manner. All in all, it is good news," he said. Southern Africa Tourism Services Association CEO David Frost said the organisation welcomed the lifting of the regulations. "It is encouraging that we are following the science eventually and taking our place with the rest of the world. Any impediment and restriction to travel is detrimental to tourism. We look forward to reaping the pent-up demand that we are witnessing," he added. Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa’s Rosemary Anderson, meanwhile, said the federation was thrilled that government had lifted the restriction of 50%-only capacity in conferences, events, exhibitions, musical events and big stadium events. Travel agency Flight Centre Travel Group South Africa MD Euan McNeil said the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions was fantastic news for South African travellers and that the lifting of the last Covid-19 requirements would undoubtedly boost traveller confidence. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Protests at some Eskom power plants following breakdown of wage negotiations Bloomberg reports that tensions are rising at Eskom, with the struggling electricity supplier confirming protests at a number of power plants following a breakdown in wage negotiations. Groups at six coal-fired stations “have blocked roads leading to some of the power stations, which hampers the movement of people and goods into or outside of the facilities. While some incidents of intimidation have been reported, the protesters are largely peaceful at this stage,” spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha indicated on Thursday. Some of Thursday’s demonstrators wore union gear, Mantshantsha said, adding that the police had been alerted. Eskom reached a deadlock with labour unions in pay talks earlier this week. The company’s last major wage negotiations in 2018 broke down into labour protests – considered illegal because the utility provides an essential service – that resulted in electricity shortages. A three-year deal was then signed for pay increases of as much as 7.5% annually. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) are the two biggest labour groups at Eskom. Read full original of the short report in the above regard at Engineering News. Read too, Fears rise of more loadshedding as wage dispute protests break out at Eskom’s power stations, at IOL
Parliament defends 3% pay increase for MPs TimesLive reports that Parliament has defended a 3% salary increase for MPs and ministers, saying public servants earned less than to their counterparts around the world. President Cyril Ramaphosa last week accepted recommendations by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers to increase the salaries of politicians and other government office-bearers by 3%. Ramaphosa advised in a government gazette that the increases would be backdated to April 2021 and would apply to all categories of public office-bearers, including ministers and their deputies, premiers, MECs, MPs, MPLs, traditional leaders and judges. The 3% increase has drawn criticism from the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu), which said it was unfair to struggling public service workers. Cosatu publicly called on Ramaphosa to reject the “tone deaf and embarrassing” recommendations. But, Parliament’s spokesperson Moloto Mothapo noted that ministers, MPs, and MPLs last received salary increases in April 2019, and that the remuneration of public office bearers needed to be adjusted to enable them to cope with the rising cost of living. “Unlike in other countries, MPs do not play any role in the process of determining either their salaries or annual increments,” Mothapo pointed out, adding that SA's public representatives did not earn more than their counterparts in similar countries. Moreover, SA MPs were barred from undertaking any other remunerative responsibilities outside their parliamentary work and their salaries were published as a total remuneration package and not cost-plus benefits. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at BusinessLive. Read too, ‘MPs need more money’, on page 15 of The Citizen of 23 June 2022
Numsa to picket at Japanese embassy on Friday on future of Nissan plant, even while manufacturer denies closure rumours Engineering News reports that according to the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), it will be picketing at the Japanese Embassy in Pretoria on Friday. The union intends to hand over a memorandum of demands regarding a “number of grievances” against Nissan’s management in SA. Included will be demands for clarity on what Numsa says is the Japanese car maker’s failure to engage the union on its electric vehicle (EV) ambitions, and transparency on the future of the SA plant. Numsa said in a statement: “Some workers are likely to be displaced because the new (EV) technology is not labour intensive. Workers want to know what the plans are and whether they will be trained and upskilled to adjust to the new technology. There are also plans to terminate at least 150 fixed-term contracts at the plant, and rumours that the Nissan plant (in Pretoria) will be moved to Egypt, thus threatening the livelihoods of over 1,200 workers.” Nissan SA said it was incorrect that “150 workers have been released”. The company noted, however, that there were a number of fixed-term contractors in its manufacturing operations whose fixed-term contracts had come to an end. Nissan SA said it “remains committed to maintaining open engagements with Numsa and key stakeholders in order to find mutually beneficial resolutions”. The local arm of the Japanese manufacturer also denied that it was shutting its doors. “With a six-decade legacy of producing light commercial vehicles, the strategic goal is to establish Nissan’s South Africa operation to be the continental light commercial vehicle hub,” the company pointed out. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News Police union Popcru staged protest in Pretoria on Wednesday over trainees’ ‘shocking’ conditions The Citizen reports that members of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) marched to the SA Police Service (SAPS) headquarters in Pretoria on Wednesday to hand over a memorandum of demands relating to the allegedly shocking conditions trainees were subjected too. A human chain of police officers stood guard in front of the police headquarters while Popcru members picketed in the street. Other issues raised included discrepancies that led to over 545 trainees not receiving their stipends over the past two months. Popcru spokesperson Richard Mamabolo said they were worried about the conditions members were trained under. “Before training took place, we had various meetings to ensure they had sufficient resources to do training. Now, we learn the food is bad and not even on time,” Mamabolo said. He added there were some trainees who were not yet registered and said the union wanted the national police commissioner to investigate the allegations. Dr Johan Burger of the Institute for Security Studies agreed that there were clear signs that the police college was deteriorating. “In the past, there weren’t complaints and allegations of bad food and conditions at the colleges. You can see in the maintenance of the terrain and surroundings it is not what it should be. That is a reflection of the management in charge and we should be concerned,” he said. Burger pointed out the police college laid the foundation for discipline. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marizka Coetzer on page 8 of The Citizen of 23 June 2022 Outa pickets in support of whistle-blowing doctor, calls for investigation into CEO of Rahima Moosa Hospital The Citizen reports that members of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) on Thursday picketed outside Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in Johannesburg, in support of the doctor who blew the whistle on the poor conditions at the facility. Paediatrician Dr Tim de Maaye was suspended and then reinstated after he penned an open letter about the appalling conditions at his workplace. He detailed how problems such as load shedding, water shortages, and an overburdening of the system were affecting the health of and contributing to the deaths of young children. Outa said they were supporting De Maaye for voicing his concerns regarding the health crisis at the hospital, after the Gauteng DA spokesperson on health Jack Bloom revealed that the doctor would be served with a warning letter and was forced to apologise to the CEO Dr Nozuko Mkabayi. The organisation is also starting a campaign calling for Mkabayi to be investigated for her conduct regarding the issue. Ali Ghule, a Community Engagement Officer at Outa, claimed the hospital’s top brass was harassing De Maaye. The CEO of Outa Wayne Duvenage described the situation at the hospital as ‘diabolical’ and said it highlighted the health crisis in the country. He stated: “This call for a commission. The minister and the MECs need to seriously get down to the business of getting competence into hospital management.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kgomotso Phooko at The Citizen
Implats contractors provide clarity on Numsa’s claims Mining Weekly reports that three contractor companies at Impala Platinum’s mines in Rustenburg, North West, have expressed their views on some of the claims made by National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), which is currently carrying out strike action at the mines. The three contractors, Newrak Mining, Triple M Mining and Reagetswe Mining, said the strike action was “regrettable” and followed several other unprotected strikes called by the union in the past year, including a two-month strike in mid-2021. Losses from the current strike have amounted to R30-million, and it has put job security at risk, the companies warned. In response to Numsa’s demands for union recognition, the contractors explained that there were different circumstances applying at each company. While the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) was the majority union at Reagetswe and Triple M, representing between 16% and 26% of their employees, Numsa was the largest union at Newrak and was recognised by the company. At Triple M, Numsa was reportedly given some organising rights to enable it to improve its representation, however, after 14 months, the union was unable to reach that goal. Despite Numsa being the largest union at Newrak, the company said it could not offer the union members access rights on Impala’s property. Instead, Numsa was offered office facilities outside the Impala property, but the union rejected the offer. The contractors advised further that Reagetswe earlier this week won an interdict against the latest strike, declaring it unprotected and directing employees to return to work. The other two companies will apparently also apply for interdicts. Addressing Numsa’s claims about “exploitative” wages and a lack of benefits, particularly that some employees only earned R5,000 a month, the companies clarified that no employee earned near that low amount for a full month’s work. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Mining Weekly. Read too, Contractors warn Numsa they cannot long support “unprotected’ strike at Implats mines, at Miningmx
Legislation that conflicts with transformation must be revisited, says Deputy Employment and Labour Minister Engineering News reports that Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) Deputy Minister Boitumelo Moloi said on Thursday that South Africans needed to work hard to strengthen the country’s economy while transforming the labour system. She was speaking during the launch of the Employment Equity Instruments, the New Code of Good Practice on the Elimination and Prevention of Harassment in the World of Work (“the Harassment Code”) and the twenty-second Employment Equity Annual Report. She said legislation which conflicted with transformation must be revisited if SA was to achieve equality. She noted that the level of gender-based violence (GBV) in the country was “catastrophic” and pointed out that there was currently no tangible solution to combat this heinous crime. Moloi reported that there had been robust dialogue and cooperation between Nedlac, social partners and other relevant stakeholders around the Harassment Code. She indicated that the efforts in devising the Code were done with the main aim of achieving and advancing transformation in the country. She stressed the need to empower the previously disadvantaged, women and persons with disabilities, while dealing with the legacy of apartheid and the transformation of society, particularly transformation of unequal power relations between women and men, and fundamental changes to institutional laws. “We can take action to ensure that our laws are in line with the international conventions and protocols by effecting the necessary changes which will make us achieve the transformation we all want to see in our legislation, in particular, repeal all aspects of discrimination of any form,” Moloi emphasised. Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Engineering News
Home Affairs condemns ‘slave-like’ working conditions at Chinese-owned factory in Ekurhuleni The Citizen reports that the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has condemned the slavery of human beings at a plastics factory in Alrode, Alberton. A DHA-led law enforcement operation swooped on the Chinese-owned factory on Monday after receiving information from a whistleblower about the slave-like conditions, but was refused entry by security. DHA spokesperson Siya Qoza said the Home Affairs Inspectorate returned to the factory on Wednesday in a joint law enforcement operation that included other authorities. He reported that they found 51 illegal migrants from Malawi, Zimbabwe and China, who were being forced to work, eat and sleep inside the factory. “The fifty-one were subjected to inhumane and unspeakable working and living conditions in a factory owned by a Chinese national. This operation led to the arrest of these fifty-one illegal migrants,” said Qoza. He added that the manager of the factory, a Chinese national, was also arrested, but the owner of the factory was out of the country. All the suspects appeared in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Thursday where they were charged in terms of section 49 of the Immigration Act. Law enforcement officials are also investigating a possible case of human trafficking. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Faizel Patel at The Citizen
Company owner accused of defrauding UIF's Ters of over R205,000 to appear in Bellville court on Friday TimesLive reports that a 64-year-old company owner and director who allegedly defrauded the UIF's Covid-19 Temporary Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) is due to appear in the Bellville Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Friday. The Blackheath-based company was affected by the hard lockdown in March 2020, and its 15 employees did not have income for about a month. They returned to work when the lockdown was relaxed to less stringent levels. “The company director allegedly applied for Covid-19 Ters covering even the period when the employees had returned to work. The company received an undue payment of R205,695.45,” Hawks spokesperson Lt-Col Philani Nkwalase reported. Nkwalase said only a few employees received the claimed funds for the period of the business closure, while others were not paid. The matter was reported to the authorities by the Department of Employment & Labour for criminal investigation, which led to arrest of the company director. The money was later paid back to the department, but criminal charges went ahead. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ernest Mabuza at TimesLive
|
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page