Today's Labour News
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 an important strategic shift, almost 16-million people allowed back to work under ‘new’ level 3
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BusinessLive writes that during the Covid-19 pandemic and response an important question from both a health and economic policy perspective has related to the number of people permitted to return to work as the lockdown was eased.
‘Significant’ retrenchments down the line for Barloworld, as group prepares for post-Covid-19 trading
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Business Report writes that distribution company Barloworld plans significant group-wide retrenchments before the end of the year to prepare itself for trading after the coronavirus pandemic.
Alert level 3 permits domestic workers to go back to work from Monday
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TimesLIVE reports that domestic workers can go back to work from Monday, 1 June, albeit only in circumstances where it’s safe to do so.
Western Cape judge dismisses challenge to lockdown ban on hairdressing
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TimesLIVE reports that an advocate who went to court to highlight the plight of hairdressers under Covid-19 lockdown should have combed through the roots of the regulations more thoroughly, a judge said on Thursday.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Thursday, 28 May 2020
- Details
In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Thursday, 28 May 2020.
Court to rule on garbage recyclers' right to work during lockdown
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GroundUp reports that in an urgent application, Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) has asked the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to declare the lockdown directive which requires reclaimers to apply to municipalities for a work permit unconstitutional and invalid.
Fear grips Tshwane retirement village's 400 residents after food preparation staff member allegedly tests positive for Covid-19
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The Star reports that fear has gripped a Gauteng retirement village that houses more than 400 vulnerable senior citizens after a staff member working in the food preparation section allegedly tested positive for Covid-19.
More Netcare staff test positive for Covid-19, this time at Sunward Park Hospital in Boksburg
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News24 reports that the Netcare Sunward Park Hospital in Boksburg has closed its theatres for seven days and has diverted ambulance emergencies after some staff members tested positive for Covid-19.
Unions support DBE's plan to adjust curricula so that content lost during lockdown can be covered next year
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The Star reports that unions have thrown their weight behind the Department of Basic Education’s (DBE’s) plan to defer teaching of some of the content yet to be covered in classrooms to the next grade.
Cabinet gives approval for GEPF head Abel Sithole to take over as CEO of PIC
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Moneyweb writes that if the Public Investment Corporation’s (PIC’s) board had had its way, Abel Sithole, the principal executive officer of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), would have been heading the R2 trillion investment organisation right now.
Momentum grows for an out-of-court settlement of the Mining Charter impasse
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BL Premium reports that the Minerals Council SA (MCSA - previously called the Chamber of Mines) has spoken glowingly of an easing of tensions between the industry and Department of Mineral Resources & Energy (DMRE), raising hopes that a legal battle over the Mining Charter could be resolved out of court.
Patients and staff at two frail care centres in Port Elizabeth hit by Covid-19
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HeraldLIVE reports that Covid-19 has hit two frail care centres in Port Elizabeth, with a combined 20 patients and 11 employees infected and an elderly woman who contracted the virus having died.
KZN education department to hire 6,000 EPWP workers to screen teachers and pupils at schools
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TimesLIVE reports that the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) education department says it will deploy 6,000 people to screen teachers and pupils at schools in the province from 1 June.
SAA’s business rescue practitioners say they’re engaging with government on new airline
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BL Premium reports that the SA Airways (SAA) business rescue practitioners (BRPs) told creditors on Wednesday that they were continuing to engage with the government on plans for a new airline, which stood a reasonable chance of materialising if funds were made available.
'Laboratory error' means SABC employee in KZN who tested positive for Covid-19 was actually negative
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TimesLIVE reports that after releasing a precautionary communiqué on a positive Covid-19 case at its KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) office, the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has announced that the employee was in fact negative.
Municipal councillors to get pay hike from July, those in Cape Town urged to donate to Covid-19 relief
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TimesLIVE reports that in line with a national agreement, municipal councillors will receive a pay hike from July. This was indicated in a statement on Cape Town's budget presentation, but is apparently applicable across the country.
UIF has paid out more than R15bn for Covid-19 relief, apologises for network break affecting processing of May claims
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TimesLIVE reports that according to the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has to date paid in excess of R15bn to beneficiaries of the company relief scheme.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 27 May 2020
- Details
In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Wednesday, 27 May 2020.
CCMA offices flooded with people over retrenchments, unfair dismissals
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City Press reports that the massive loss of jobs – brought about by the Covid-19 coronavirus – has resulted in hordes of people flocking into the offices of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), which began operations again last week for the first time since the nationwide lockdown began in March.
Retrenchments loom as DA moves to create a structure “more suited” to the party’s current needs
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City Press reports that the Democratic Alliance’s (DA’s) federal executive has decided to retrench some party employees, in a move described as creating “a structure that is more suited” to the party’s current needs.
‘Fake news’ that a SAA pilot involved in transporting South Africans from Wuhan in March died of Covid-19 virus
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The Citizen reports that social media posts that a SA Airways (SAA) pilot – who was part of the crew responsible for the repatriation of 112 South Africans from Wuhan in China to South Africa on 14 March – has died of Covid-19, are untrue.
Lockdown causes ‘total devastation’ to tourism and hospitality sector
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Moneyweb writes that with SA gearing up to ease Covid-19 lockdown restrictions even further, one industry getting left behind is the tourism and hospitality sector, which directly employed 740,000 in 2018.
SA’s deep-level mines grapple with thousands returning to work
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Bloomberg writes that when SA mining companies are allowed to recall all their workers as lockdown restrictions ease further on Monday, full production will remain elusive as the pandemic upends operating practices.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma warns of unemployment surging above 50% due to coronavirus epidemic
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Business Report writes that on Tuesday the government acknowledged that SA’s unemployment rate could surge to beyond 50% as a result of businesses taking strain from the coronavirus epidemic.
Brace for bigger-than-expected fuel price increases in June, says AA
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BusinessLive reports that SA motorists must brace for a bigger-than-expected petrol price increase in June after oil prices rebounded off their late-April crash. This will come after record fuel price drops in April and May.
SAA’s business rescue practitioners refute ‘incorrect’ company statement that SAA will resume domestic flights in mid-June
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BL Premium reports that the SA Airways (SAA) business rescue practitioners (BRPs) said on Wednesday that the state-owned airline would not resume domestic flights in mid-June. This was contrary to a statement issued by the company’s communications office on Tuesday.
Western Cape correctional services official dies from coronavirus disease
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TimesLIVE reports that an official from the Western Cape Department of Correctional Services (DCS) official died from the coronavirus disease on Tuesday.
DMRE to fast-track capital projects, mining rights to help save jobs
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Mining Weekly reports that the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) says that to help create jobs in what will remain a challenging macroeconomic environment for the foreseeable future, it will fast-track its capital expenditure (capex) projects planned for the next five years.
IDC asks court to put Kalagadi Manganese into business rescue; application opposed
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BL Premium reports that Kalagadi Manganese’s major creditor and 20% shareholder, the state-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), has approached the court to put the mining company into business rescue.
Nedlac to discuss UIF’s financial capacity to continue paying Covid-19 relief funds beyond 2020
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BusinessLive reports that the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) will on Thursday discuss the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s (UIF’s) financial capacity to continue paying Covid-19 temporary relief benefits in the long run.