In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 13 January 2023.
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Rolling blackouts and electricity hikes fuels calls for a national shutdown on 9 February TimesLive reports that a national shutdown by fed-up South Africans over load-shedding, unemployment, corruption and the 18.65% electricity increase, is looming, amid calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s head. Indefinite stage 6 load-shedding coupled with the announcement of a massive hike in electricity costs has spurred a call for a national shutdown on 9 February, which is trending on social media platforms such as Twitter. But it isn’t immediately clear who is responsible for the protest action. A widely-circulated notice states: “Remember. February 9 is national shut down day. Tell your family, tell your friends 2024 is too far! People are losing their jobs, having their homes taken. Every town must have its own coordinator and the main march must be in Cape Town, where the people will march to the state of the nation event …” Politicians from opposing parties are also using the national shutdown hashtag to express their positions on the electricity crisis. DA leader John Steehuisen slammed the 18,65% increase on Saturday. The party plans to challenge the move by seeking an interdict against the energy regulator and staging a mass march to the ANC headquarters in Johannesburg on 25 January. The SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) lamented: “Combined with increases in the past 15 years, the electricity tariff is more than 800% higher than 2007. Hence electricity has become unaffordable for poor and working-class people. We are especially angry that it is South African women, who mainly take care of our homes, cooking and child-rearing, who must resort to supplementing electricity with firewood, coal, paraffin and gas stoves and heaters… These tariff hikes are the main contributor to the ever-rising cost of living… Paying for food and electricity now costs way more than the national minimum wage earned by about half of the workforce in the country.” Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Suthentira Govender at SowetanLive. Read too, No matter the stage of load shedding we face, it’s time South Africans protest against Eskom, at Cape Argus. And also, Saftu: Eskom tariff hikes the main contributor towards the ever-rising cost of living, at IOL President Ramaphosa cancels Davos trip in order to deal with energy crisis TimesLive reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday announced he had cancelled his working visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, due to the ongoing energy crisis. Ramaphosa was scheduled to lead a delegation of ministers and South African captains of industry to promote SA as an investment destination of choice. However, rising dissent with the populace after the country experienced debilitating stage 6 load-shedding 11 days into the new year has seemingly changed the president’s plans. This as political parties have added their voices to the criticism over the government’s inability to get the power utility fully-operational. “Currently the president is convening a meeting with leaders of political parties represented in parliament, (National Energy Crisis Committee) and the Eskom board,” presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya indicated. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ernest Mabuza at TimesLive. Read too, Ramaphosa cancels Davos trip due to ongoing energy crisis, at The Citizen Eskom’s power price hike widely rejected as ‘unfair, unjust and cruel’ BL Premium reports that business, political parties and trade unions have decried the National Energy Regulator of SA’s (Nersa’s) “tough decision” to let Eskom implement a 18.65% price hike for 2023/2024, saying it meant hard-pressed consumers would pay more for electricity they did not receive due to increased rolling blackouts. They claimed the decision was not sustainable and would force business owners to look at alternative sources of energy as they contemplated getting off the grid to remain competitive amid the worst power cuts yet. Nersa announced on Thursday its decision on Eskom tariffs for the next two years. The 18.65% tariff increase for 2023/2024 is about 40% of the 32% increase the power utility applied for as part of its fifth multiyear price determination. Nersa approved a 12.74% tariff increase for 2024/2025. Meantime, Eskom announced last week that stage 6 load-shedding would continue until further notice after 11 generators suffered breakdowns. Labour federation Cosatu described Nersa’s approval of the 18% tariff increase “insensitive and careless”. Cosatu spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said: “This will be a devastating blow to workers and businesses struggling to survive in an economy that is still reeling from Covid-19 lockdowns and rampant inflation.” Theuns du Buisson, economics researcher at the Solidarity Research Institute, said they were of the view that Nersa should pay more attention to applications from private power generators and less attention to Eskom’s applications for more expensive power. “The time that Nersa spends every year to consider Eskom’s tariff increase application can be spent much better on policy review to allow new entrants to the power grid to supply their services. In the end, this is the only way SA would be able to emerge from the current energy crisis,” Du Buisson stated. The DA’s Ghaleb Cachalia said the Nersa-Eskom raid on consumers’ empty pockets was “unfair, unjust and cruel because it is asking consumers to pay more for electricity that they don’t have”. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only). Lees ook, Eskom: Verbruikersopstand broei, by Maroela Media Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Labour department calls for official hearing after death of two poultry workers at Astral facility in Paarl News24 reports that Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) Minister Thulas Nxesi has called for an official hearing following the death of two poultry workers and injuries to five other people at the Astral Foods facility in Paarl last week. Workers were busy with normal work duties a week ago when they sensed an offensive smell coming from the bottom of a pit. "According to a worker, his colleague went into the pit to investigate but was overwhelmed by the strong odour and collapsed. The supervisor rushed to assist the worker but also collapsed," a DEL spokesperson reported. Astral, which is SA’s largest poultry producer, said on Thursday that the incident took place while the men were working at the waste disposal plant, "which is separate to the main plant and which does not have any septic pits". The two employees developed breathing difficulties, with both of them succumbing to their injuries. A further six were sent to hospital for observation, with five being kept overnight. All employees have since been discharged from the hospital, and the cause of their breathing difficulties was under investigation, the company indicated. That statement issued on Thursday advised that thorough cleaning of the area had been undertaken and that any preventative action determined from the investigation would be immediately implemented. On Friday, the minister visited the company as well as the families of those affected by the incident and said the department would also be "looking at the company" to make sure it was complying with regulations. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lisalee Solomons at News24. Read too, Labour department to help injured Astral workers, families of deceased to access compensation benefits, at Fin24 Other internet posting(s) in this news category
Tshwane family forced to pay gravedigging cost for loved one amid service provider strike Eyewitness News reports that a family in Tshwane had to fork out money to hire equipment to dig a grave so that they could bury their loved one this past weekend. This was as a result of a pay dispute between the City of Tshwane and a service provider responsible for digging graves in the municipality’s cemeteries. Apparently, the service provider had not been paid for over a month's work and as a result, had downed tools. Rhouda Diamond said when she went to the Lotus Gardens Cemetery to check on her grandfather's grave, she was told it had not yet been dug due to a strike by gravediggers. "That lady told us that she can only assist us if we bring our own TLB [Tractor Loader Backhoe] then she showed us a site," she reported. Diamond said the family then leased its own TLB to dig the grave. The City of Tshwane said it was working on resolving the payment dispute with the service provider. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Thabiso Goba at EWN
SA companies set to hike pay by 6.1% on average in 2023 BL Premium reports that SA employers are planning to increase their staff budgets to enable pay increases of 6.1% on average in 2023 as they battle to attract and retain staff in the present inflationary cycle. That is according to international risk adviser and HR consultant Willis Towers Watson (WTW), which surveyed 423 local businesses as part of its annual global pay survey. WTW’s latest Salary Budget Planning Report found that the pay increases planned for 2023 compared with an average 5.9% pay rise in 2022. Melanie Trollip of WTW SA commented: “The pressure of inflation and a competitive labour market are forcing many to increase their pay budgets so that they can both retain and attract the best staff. Employers are facing tough choices as they try to control costs during a testing business climate, but also strive to keep their pay levels attractive. Those organisations that succeed will have a clear reward strategy and an understanding of what employees are looking for.” WTW’s report shows employers are increasing pay budgets for three main reasons: concerns about inflation (78%), a challenging labour market (37%), and staff retention (30%). Despite considerable economic challenges, many SA firms are hiring on signs of an improving business outlook. Meantime, according to Investec economist Annabel Bishop, inflation is likely to average about 5.2% in 2023, down from an estimated 6.9% for 2022. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Garth Theunissen at BusinessLive (subscriber access only) Minimum wages may be hiked by more than 8%, according to proposal by National Minimum Wage Commission Fin24 reports that the national minimum wage could be hiked by more than 8% this year, according to a new proposal by the Department of Employment and Labour's (DEL’s) National Minimum Wage (NMW) Commission. The commission has proposed a hike of the consumer price index (CPI) plus 0.5% to 1%. In November, CPI reached 7.4%. If a hike of CPI plus 1% was to be adopted, at the current inflation rate that would increase the minimum wage to around R25.13 per hour. For those working nine hours a day, this would works out to a monthly wage of around R4,750. The minimum wage was hiked by almost 7% in March 2022, from R21.69 to R23.19 an hour. For the first time, domestic workers earned the full minimum wage. Stakeholders had until 13 January 2023 to respond to the new proposal. Once inputs from the public have been collected, the commission will send a final report to DEL Minister Thulas Nxesi, and he will make a final determination based on the reports and the inputs. The NMW chair, Professor Adriaan van der Walt, indicated: "All wage-earning workers must earn enough to maintain a decent standard of living, defined as sufficient to support themselves and their families at a level that is both socially acceptable and economically viable." But businesses, which have been hit by rocketing interest rates and record load shedding, may balk at the proposed steep rise in the minimum wage. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Khulekani Magubane at Fin24. Read too, Does the minimum wage hike go too far - or not far enough? at Fin24 (subscriber access only)
Seven zama zamas arrested for illegal chrome mining in Limpopo IOL reports that seven suspected illegal miners (zama zamas) were arrested mining chrome at Mooihoek Mountain, Driekop in Limpopo. A South African, three Mozambicans and three Zimbabweans were arrested for illegal mining on Saturday. Seventeen generators, seven jackhammers and three electric cables were seized. "The fight against illegal mining activities will continue to be intensified across the Province, particularly in the Sekhukhune and Mopani Districts. We warn communities to desist from engaging in these illegal activities as the police will relentlessly arrest all perpetrators and seize their equipment,” said Limpopo provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe. The seven are expected to appear in the Mecklenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing charges related to illegal mining as well as additional charges under the Immigration Act. Read the original of the short report in the above regard by Molaole Montsho at IOL Other general posting(s) relating to mining
New report reveals the most in-demand jobs and skills in South Africa Fin24 reports that a new report by the recruitment group Michael Page has highlighted a strong demand for specific professional skills in South Africa, with global companies poaching experienced South African staff while local employers are looking for candidates with the same talent. Based on data captured by Michael Page Africa from job advertisements and insights from consultants, it has compiled a new report on the most in-demand skills and experience needed within various sectors of South Africa. The sectors reported on include the following (the most in-demand job in each sector indicated in brackets): Banking and financial services industry (internal audit manager); Engineering and manufacturing (head of engineering); Finances and accounting (commercial finance manager and controller); Legal industry (corporate commercial in-house counsel); Procurement and supply chain (supply chain planning); Sales and marketing (business development manager); Technology (cloud computing). Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Na’ilah Ebrahim at Fin24
Government red tape chokes off supply of specialist nurses BL Premium reports that SA’s pipeline for training specialist nurses has been virtually throttled by the government’s botched transition to new qualifications. This has been revealed by data published by the SA Nursing Council (SANC). The situation heralds a deepening crisis for public and private hospitals, which have for more than a decade battled to recruit specialist nurses in areas such as intensive and emergency care and oncology. The situation is so grave that the government has sought to bolster numbers by including specialist nurses on its scarce skills list, a mechanism intended to smooth the way for employers to hire foreign nationals. According to SANC data, universities and public nursing colleges have been given the go-ahead to train only 70 nurses seeking postgraduate qualifications in emergency care this year, along with 80 for oncology, fewer than 200 for critical care, and just 265 for midwifery. This is despite SA’s massive trauma burden and high maternal and infant mortality rates. Only 15 places are available to train nurses who want to specialise in critical care for children, 46 for nephrology and 80 for mental health. No nurses at all will receive specialist postgraduate training in the Eastern Cape this year. These low numbers come after a two-year hiatus in the training of specialist nurses under the new qualifications, a plan that was supposed to kick off in 2020. The government’s decision to introduce new qualifications in 2020 meant nursing education institutions had to acquire fresh accreditation from multiple bodies before they could begin training specialist nurses on the new curriculum. But red tape stymied their plans to such an extent that no new students could begin specialist nursing training in 2020 and 2021. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Tamar Kahn at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Overcrowding in prisons continues to be a major problem for correctional officers, says Popcru IOL reports that according to the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru), overcrowding in prisons continues to be a major issue for correctional officials. This was indicated after Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola advised that the inmate population rose by 7.67% between the 2020/2021 and 2022/2023 financial years, constituting an increase of 10,807 inmates. By October 2022 the overall prison population stood at 151,755 inmates. Popcru spokesperson Richard Mamabolo said its members were facing difficulties on a regular basis since they had to care for a bigger population of prison inmates. The higher numbers of prisoners resulted in more frequent altercations between them and prison staff, in which Popcru members were stabbed, as well as increased fighting among inmates themselves. “So these are the issues that the department needs to look into. However, we do have confidence in the current national commissioner in the (Department of Correctional Services), who has agreed to engage with all stakeholders in looking into what solutions can be implemented,” Mamabolo said. Lamola commented that external factors such as criminal tendencies in society, the unemployment rate, the economy, an increase in effective means to combat and prosecute crime, and limiting legislation on mandatory minimum punishments all had a direct impact on inmate population levels. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sibuliso Duba at IOL Eskom employee describes nerve-wracking, stressful work environment The Citizen reports that as South Africans buckle under a second week of stage 6 load shedding, an Eskom employee has described the situation at the parastatal as “nerve-wracking”. According to the employee, they only knew what they read in the newspapers about developments at the power utility. “Load shedding is nerve-wracking. Everyone is stressed. The resignation of top management doesn’t make things easier because it’s just politics, it’s scary. I do my work and keep out of it. As employees, we have given up trying to understand what was going on”, the employee lamented, adding that underspent budgets would be used for generation capacity and that “to get budgets approved is impossible.” Economist Dawie Roodt warned if the high levels of load shedding persisted it could push the growth rate down to under 1%. “That means we will only get poorer and more unemployment,” he pointed out. Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen called on citizens to join a major protest march to the Luthuli House on 25 January against what the party described as an ANC-engineered electricity crisis. He said South Africans couldn’t accept 11 hours of load shedding a day while households battled to put food on the table and businesses struggled to pay their staff. Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Marizka Coetzer at The Citizen (subscriber access only)
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