In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 9 September 2022.
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Nxesi wants big fines for hiring of foreigners in low-skilled jobs Business Times reports that Department of Employment & Labour (DEL) Minister Thulas Nxesi wants harsher punishment of businesses that employ foreigners in low-skilled jobs instead of South Africans. Speaking on the sidelines of the 27th National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) summit in Johannesburg on Friday, the minister launched a scathing attack on employers who overlooked South Africans for low-skilled jobs. He specifically lambasted the security industry and hospitality and agriculture sectors for employing large numbers of foreign nationals in jobs that could be done by locals, a practice he vowed the government would come down on hard. “We have to be harsh on employers who employ these people. One of the things I want to propose is hard punitive measures for the employers who employ foreign labour when you have local labour, especially at a low-skilled level. They are the ones who are creating this problem,” Nxesi indicated. He added that businesses guilty of this practice must be fined a percentage of their turnover because current fines for this were not adequate. Nxesi accused some employers of exploitation as foreign workers were a cheap labour source willing to work for a fraction of the money demanded by locals. He said the government must respond, especially in light of the high unemployment in the country. The Employment Services Amendment Bill, which aimed to tackle the high representation of foreign nationals in lower occupation levels was at an advanced stage and would soon be presented to parliament, Nxesi advised. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dineo Faku at Sunday Times (subscriber access only). Read too, Nxesi reads the riot act over employment of foreigners, on page 11 of Sunday World of 11 September 2022 What special skills do you need to work as a domestic worker or in the hospitality industry or in a restaurant, Nxesi disparagingly asks Business Times reports that on the sidelines of the Nedlac Summit on Friday, Department of Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi accused employers in some sectors of exploitation of foreign workers as they were a cheap labour source willing to work for a fraction of the money demanded by South Africans. He specifically lambasted the security industry and hospitality and agriculture sectors for employing large numbers of foreign nationals in jobs that could be done by locals. “What special skills do you need to work on a farm? What special skills do you need to work as a domestic worker and what special skills do you need to work in the hospitality industry, like a restaurant where you service people? In most of these restaurants it is rare that you find South Africans. For 20 staff members you find that only five are South Africans,” the minister argued. But, Wendy Alberts of the Restaurant Association of SA said the minister could not raise such concerns without providing statistics. “He cannot make an assumption that every industry has a bunch of foreign nationals. He must go to the department of home affairs and get proper details, and we will take it from there and deal with it appropriately,” Alberts stated. Referring to attempts by the government to scrap permits that allowed undocumented Zimbabweans to remain in the county, Rosemary Anderson of the Federated Hospitality Association of SA said that scrapping the permits would not solve SA’s unemployment crisis. “Requiring ZEP [Zimbabwean Exemption Permit] holders to leave SA would not only have negative consequences for the hospitality and tourism industry but would cause trauma and pain to people whose only sin was to legally look for a better life for themselves and their families,” she claimed. Anti-foreigner sentiment has been on the rise in SA, fuelled by movements such as Operation Dudula. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dineo Faku at Sunday Times (scroll down - subscriber access only) Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Nedlac task team debating pressing labour law reforms BL Premium reports that SA’s labour laws and its collective bargaining structures are in line for an update, with a task team looking at proposals from the government, business and labour under the auspices of the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac). Economists and business people have long called for SA’s labour relations to be reformed to make it easier, especially for smaller businesses, to do business. The government is keen to drive more job creation and employment equity. Nedlac executive director Lisa Seftel told the Nedlac summit on Friday that the forum – which brings together the government, business, labour and community – was providing input on proposed labour law reforms in line with its mandate. The task team was set up earlier this year and while details of the proposals under consideration have not been made public, most relate to improving and updating labour law in line with litigation, fixing anomalies in dispute resolution, and addressing deficiencies in the functioning of the labour courts, collective bargaining mechanisms and the right to strike. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said in its latest report on SA that the labour market needed to become more flexible to address persistently weak productivity growth and an employment rate which is lower than the average for the OECD and peer countries, particularly for the youth. “Wage bargaining remains confrontational and labour-employer relations have been ranked among the weakest by the World Economic Forum. The wage bargaining system suffers from a relatively high level of bargaining at industry level, declining representativeness of bargaining councils and inadequate extension of their agreements to non-members. As a result, wage growth is weakly linked to productivity growth,” the OECD report indicated. Meanwhile, Nedlac’s role in the social compact which President Cyril Ramaphosa promised in his state of the nation address in February is still being discussed. Employment & labour minister Thulas Nxesi said at the summit that the social compact was still a work in progress and it had not been easy. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Hilary Joffe at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Read too, Nxesi says Nedlac succeeded in lobbying to support businesses, workers through lockdown, at The Citizen Other internet posting(s) in this news category
‘No retracting, no surrender’, say Putco staff as they vow to intensify strike on Monday EWN reports that striking Putco (Public Utility Transport Corporation) bus drivers have vowed to continue disrupting services on Monday, despite numerous court challenges, the dismissal of workers and a police standoff earlier last week. Putco management was forced to remove its fleet of buses off the roads after workers went on a wildcat strike demanding a 6% wage increase and bonuses promised to them three years ago. But after nearly a fortnight of being out of action, Putco buses are expected by management to return to the roads on Monday. Yet striking bus drivers said those who showed up for work would be doing so at their own risk. Putco has dismissed 105 bus drivers for instigating the wildcat wage strike and warned that more drivers could lose their jobs if industrial action continued in defiance of court interdicts. “On Monday, we are carrying on with our strike. No retract[ing], no surrender,” one driver said. The National Union of Metalworkers of SA’s (Numsa’s) leadership is expected to join the strike from the frontlines. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Veronica Mokhoali at EWN. Lees ook, Putco-dienste Maandag glo hervat, by Maroela Media Putco dismisses 105 employees for misconduct, intimidation after week-long wage and bonus strike News24 reports that Putco has dismissed 105 employees who were part of a group who protested the week before last against the non-payment of bonuses and wage increases. They were demanding back pay of salary increases of 6% and bonuses from 2020. Putco spokesperson Lindokuhle Xulu said the workers were dismissed for misconduct, intimidation, and blockading entry and exit points at Putco depots, thereby preventing employees from entering and leaving the premises. Sixty-seven of the dismissed employees were driver conductors and 38 were technical staff. The dismissals followed a disciplinary process and the reviewing of the representations of 1,000 employees as to why Putco should not dismiss them for taking part in the strike. “About 400 workers made submissions individually. We also saw about 500 representations from unions who advocated for some workers to ensure they keep their jobs. During the strike, some employees were identified threatening other people, and some were identified removing people who were not part of the strike from their offices,” Xulu reported. Putco has not laid criminal charges against the group of dismissed employees. Tirisano Transport and Service Workers Union secretary Stephen Motingoa commented as follows on the dismissals: "That is an unfortunate situation and hurried action by Putco because we don't know how they arrived at that determination. This seems to have been selective action by Putco, which, in our view, is incorrect." Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Bhengu at News24
Zama zamas plugged into Lesotho’s politics, with political parties said to be funded by illegal miners Sunday Times reports that leaked footage of masked rifle-wielding zama zamas dancing to Lesotho folk music and displaying buckets full of cash offer a terrifying glimpse into the intricacies and influence of the mining underworld. A TimesLive investigation has exposed the criminal underbelly of this parallel universe, flush in cash and stolen weapons, rife with assassinations and attacks on legitimate mines. These Basotho gangs are said to wield considerable influence in the upper echelons of Lesotho’s government, a power base built on a lucrative network of criminal activities centred on SA’s rich gold reef. In the past few months, the rivalry between two of the main groupings, namely Terene ea Khosi Mokata (Mokata’s train) and Terene ea Chakela (Chakela’s train), has intensified, spilling onto SA's soil. Two leaders of Mokata’s train, Sarel Sello and Tshepho Elliot, have been named as wanted suspects for the mass shooting at a Soweto tavern in July that killed 16 people, including a Chakela gang member. Three weeks before the killings, these same two leaders were captured on video handing out wads of cash to supporters of Lesotho’s ruling party, the All Basotho Convention (ABC), at a rally ahead of October general elections in the kingdom. Chakela’s train openly supports the opposition Democratic Congress (DC). Lesotho’s national police commissioner Holomo Molibeli believes profits from the sale of illegally mined gold in SA are used by zama zamas to buy protection from investigations and prosecutions. “It is clear there are direct links and arrangements of convenience between the politicians and zama zamas,” said Molibeli. He claimed that political parties were the direct beneficiaries of these groups’ “social outreach projects”. But the political parties have distanced themselves from his claims. DC spokesperson Serialong Qoo confirmed his party was aligned to Terene Chakela, but said: “They never gave our party money. Not a single cent.” ABC spokesperson Montoeli Masoetsa also confirmed the party had links with Terene ea Mokata, but denied it funded the party. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tankiso Makhetha, Graeme Hosken & Aron Hyman at Sunday Times (subscriber access only) Other general posting(s) relating to mining
Investment into manufacturing can create thousands of jobs in SA, study finds Business Report writes that increased activity and deliberate investment in manufacturing, driven by a clear localisation drive, will have a strong impact on the services, construction, trade, transport, communications and finance sectors, creating thousands of jobs in the process. These are the findings of the study released on Friday, which was aimed at estimating the impact of localisation in the SA manufacturing sector, as well as the multiplier effect, thereof, on the economy. Proudly South African (Proudly SA) commissioned economist Dr Iraj Abedian to survey the country’s job market, as well as opportunities for job creation in traditionally labour-intensive sectors. The study dissected key manufacturing sub-sectors and their skills intensity and the potential for job creation. Abedian noted that the SA manufacturing sector continued to lag those of its emerging market counterparts, hence its inability to “keep up”, especially in export competitiveness. However, manufacturing sub-sectors such as agro-processing, which contributed 5% to value added in 2021, held much promise for economic growth and job creation. The Agriculture and Agro-Processing Master Plan, which was ratified in May, has identified areas of focus in the sub-sector to enhance inclusive growth and boost employment opportunities in rural SA for the agriculture sector. “Agriculture today is the fastest user of the fourth industrial technology. Many farmers are operating from air-conditioned offices, using drones, automated machinery and others,” Abedian noted. He pointed out that even if the investment envisaged was directly into manufacturing sectors, forward and backward-linked services sectors also benefited substantially due to the multiplier effects of the circular flow. “On average, every well-paid South African job creates up to 2.5 other jobs including ‘informal jobs’ such as gardeners, drivers, domestic helpers and artisans,” Abedian noted. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Siphelele Dludla at Business Report
Battle lines drawn at Denel as retrenchments loom Business Report writes that another fight is brewing at Denel as trade unions gear up for a battle with the state arms manufacturer over retrenchments. A hearing on the parastatal's intention to retrench at least 663 employees in five categories could be held as early as this week. Trade unions Solidarity and Uasa confirmed receipt of communication from the CCMA to prepare for the sessions. "We are waiting for the commissioners and trade union officials to be assembled … We are ready to be part of the process, we are prepared to negotiate," said Uasa’s Rick Grobler. Solidarity's public sector deputy secretary-general Helgard Cronjé also confirmed that the union was gearing up for a fight and would represent the interest of its workers at the discussions. In what was the first visible move by newly appointed CEO Mike Kgobe, who replaced William Hlakoane on 1 September, five pages of correspondence to the unions set out, in varying levels of detail, the intentions of the Denel board and management to restructure operations based on operational requirements. The proposed retrenchment date, pending the completion of all necessary consultation and people processes, is 1 October. The targeted categories apparently include senior officials and managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerks and “crafts and related trades”. The selection criteria for axing include relevant experience and qualifications, competency, skills and diversity. Reportedly on the table will be a severance payment equal to a week’s remuneration for each completed year of service. Additionally, retrenched personnel will be fully paid up to termination, including accrued leave pay and “some benefits in accordance with the Social Plan”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Banele Ginindz at Business Report. Lees ook, Honderde afleggings dreig by Denel, by Maroela Media
Landmark case in dispute of maternity leave provisions Sunday World reports that a Gauteng couple has served the Department of Employment and Labour with a notice at the Joburg high court, challenging sections of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act as unconstitutional. In a landmark case seeking to have paternal leave included as part of parental leave, with equal rights afforded to both parents of newborn children, the first applicant Werner van Wyk and second applicant, his wife Ika van Wyk, are seeking maternity leave changed to parental leave with equal rights to all parents. The parties want the courts to declare the non-awarding of paternal leave to fathers of newborn children unconstitutional. Their court application is supported by the Sonke Gender Justice as the third applicant, with the three parties arguing that sections 25 and 26 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act of 1997 (BCEA) should be declared “unconstitutional in so far as they unfairly discriminate against fathers of newborn children by unjustifiably limiting the father’s rights to paternity leave in South Africa”. The Van Wyks, whose child is now over a year old, initiated the case after Werner, a fulltime employee, was denied four months’ parental leave to look after his newborn child. Werner had to take a sabbatical so that his wife Ika, who is self-employed and runs two businesses, could return to work. The applicants are seeking that section 25 and 26 of BCEA be extended to ensure equal rights of all mother, fathers and same-sex parents of newborn children in SA, and that they include circumstances where a father is the primary caregiver of the newborn child; allow for extended paternal and/parental leave in workplace leave policies; extend the definition of “maternity leave” to include “parental” and “care-giving” leave; and include the recognition of a new category of “peri-natal leave” for the pregnant, delivering and breastfeeding parents for a period of six weeks. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Phumla Mkize on page 6 of Sunday World of 11 September 2022
Exam results of hundreds of students withheld as cheating grips TVET colleges in Limpopo and Free State Sunday World reports that hundreds of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students are in limbo after their results were withheld amid allegations of cheating. The affected colleges are in Limpopo and the Free State. Department of High Education and Training spokesperson Ismael Mnisi confirmed the withholding of 2,028 results. “The results of these students have been blocked and a decision in this regard will be taken after the investigation and hearings with the implicated students are completed. At the hearings, the implicated students will be allowed to respond to the allegations of assisted copying,” said Mnisi. He went on to indicate: “If the implicated students are found guilty, their results will be nullified and they will be suspended from participating in future examinations for three years.” Mnisi said of the 123 examination centres implicated, 33 were public centres and 90 were private examination centres, while the withheld results were those of mathematics N3, Engineering Science N3, electro-technology N3, and fitting and machining theory N2. He, however, denied the students had access to the question papers and answers and advised that the alleged irregularities were classified as assisted copying and not leakage of question papers. Sources at Sekhukhune College said it was not the first time that students had been accused of cheating at the institution. Umalusi spokesperson Biki Lepota refused to speculate as to when the results would be released, but said the department was the only body authorised and responsible to release the results. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Masoka Dube on page 6 of Sunday World of 11 September 2022
Seven Ekurhuleni EMPD officers have been arrested for murder and defeating the ends of justice. News24 reports that seven Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Policing Department (EMPD) officers are expected to appear in the Tsakane Magistrate's Court on Monday on charges of murder, attempted murder, and defeating the ends of justice. The five constables and two inspectors were arrested by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) on Saturday in connection with a shooting incident at a shack in Langaville, Extension 6, on Thursday, which left one man dead, and another man shot and wounded. The deceased's body was transported to Springs Pathology Services and a post-mortem was conducted on Saturday. The reason for the EMPD visit to the Langaville shack has not yet been disclosed. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Cebelihle Mthethwa at News24
Gauteng education department warns that sexual harassment won't be tolerated at schools EWN reports that the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has warned that sexual harassment will not be tolerated at schools and offenders will face the full might of the law. This after three pupils reported sexual harassment by male learners in two separate incidents at a Midrand school. The GDE’s spokesperson Steve Mabona said: "Indeed these cases are worrisome and any learner or employee reported to have sexually harassed anyone in our school premises will face necessary disciplinary action and possibly be removed from our school. We urge victims or witnesses to report such cases so that they can be dealt with immediately." Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Dominic Majola at EWN. Lees ook, Ondersoek na teistering by Gautengse skool, by Maroela Media
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