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.
Workers not registered for UIF can now claim Ters benefit
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BusinessLive reports that Employment & Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi on Monday amended a directive pertaining to the Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) to now allow workers to claim even where their employers did not register them for the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), provide the required details, or pay the necessary contributions.
Struggling with cash-flow, Sascoc pays salaries one day late
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BusinessLive reports that the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) paid salaries to its 24 staff members on Tuesday according to acting CEO Ravi Govender.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 26 May 2020
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In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Tuesday, 26 May 2020.
NUM calls for closures of mines with a high number of Covid-19 cases
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Mining Weekly reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has expressed concern about the number of Covid-19 cases reported at SA mines and has called on the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to stop mining operations until all safety measures have been adhered to.
Teachers need more time to prepare, asserts Sadtu KZN on return of staff to schools
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News24 reports that the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) says the extension for school staff to return to schools under Level 3 lockdown is not enough to prepare for the return of pupils.
Up to 70% of salons face closure post Covid-19
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Sowetan reports that up to 70% of the country’s hair and beauty salons, spas and tattoo parlours face closure as their businesses remain under the Covid-19 lockdown.
Forty-one Gauteng health workers assaulted last year, mainly by psychiatric patients
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The Citizen reports that 41 health workers in Gauteng public hospitals were assaulted last year, the vast majority by psychiatric patients. This was indicated by Gauteng health MEC Bandile Masuku in response to questions in the Gauteng Legislature.
Pension funds declined by more than R400bn in first quarter of 2020
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Business Report writes that pension funds in SA declined by more than R400-billion in the first three months of this year, resulting in a negative chain reaction on households’ net wealth.
Twenty-six cases of Covid-19 at Mediclinic Cape Town in Oranjezicht
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News24 reports that twenty-six people have tested positive for Covid-19 at Mediclinic Cape Town in Oranjezicht, the medical facility confirmed on Monday.
Second school in Cape Town hit by positive Covid-19 case during prep week
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News24 reports that the Western Cape education department said on Tuesday that Parkvale Primary School in Valhalla Park was the second school in Cape Town to have a positive Covid-19 case among educators.
Teacher's union Eusa heads to court on Friday to stop schools reopening
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TimesLIVE reports that the Educators Union of SA (Eusa) is planning to approach the courts on Friday for an interdict against the government's plan to partially open schools on 1 June.
Cosatu wants workers to be able to draw on retirement fund savings on a once-off basis to fight Covid-19 hardship
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BL Premium reports that Cosatu has submitted an urgent request to Finance Minister Tito Mboweni to issue an emergency directive allowing employed workers who are members of retirement funds to access a part of their savings on a once-off basis.
As lockdown eases, banks happy to keep workers at home because they can work “very effectively” from outside the corporate building
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Bloomberg writes that as the government prepares to ease lockdown restrictions and manufacturers, miners and industries prepare their factories and offices to receive their employees, banks have found there is no need to immediately go back.
SAA rescue team wins permission to appeal retrenchment decision
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BusinessLive reports that the SA Airways (SAA) business rescue practitioners (BRPs) have been granted leave to appeal against a labour court judgment that determined that they were not entitled to retrench employees before finalising the business rescue plan.
Limited air travel will not save airlines, says Airlines Association of SA
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BL Premium reports that the Airlines Association of Southern Africa warned on Monday that the easing of the lockdown regulations to allow for limited air travel would do little to save struggling airlines.
As principals and teachers in Gauteng get their PPE, schools gear up for restart on Monday
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Sowetan reports that schools in Gauteng have received personal protective equipment (PPE) and they are now gearing up to welcome grade 7 and 12 learners on 1 June.
A third of tested miners at AngloGold’s Mponeng mine positive for coronavirus
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BL Premium reports that AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) said on Monday that testing of employees at its Mponeng mine had been finalised and showed that a third of the tested workers were infected with Covid-19.
Covid-19 job losses could be permanent, but a balance can be found between containing the virus and other health, social and economic imperatives
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BL Premium reports that a new academic paper published by the Covid-19 economists group warns that there is a danger that employment losses due to the epidemic will become permanent, causing the rate of unemployment to be significantly raised for years to come.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Monday, 25 May 2020
- Details
In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Monday, 25 May 2020.
One dead, three injured when boundary wall under construction built collapsed in KZN
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TimesLIVE reports that one person was killed and three were injured when a boundary wall collapsed in Inanda, north of Durban, on Monday.
‘No mercy’ for companies that flout Covid-19 safety rules
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Business Report writes that as the government reopens the economy and eases the Covid-19 lockdown, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) plans to close down companies that flout regulations designed to protect the well-being of employees.
Helen Joseph Hospital support staff protest after nurses test positive for Covid-19
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The Citizen reports that support staff at Helen Joseph Hospital protested outside the facility on Monday and, among other requests, asked to be tested for Covid-19 after more than five nurses had tested positive for the virus.
Soldiers allegedly involved in death of Collins Khosa suspended
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TimesLIVE reports that the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) members who were allegedly involved in the death of Collins Khosa from Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, have been suspended.
With no specific industry support in place, Covid-19 lockdown is killing hair salons
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City Press reports that for those in the hair and cosmetology industry, the national Covid-19 lockdown has meant lost livelihoods and wiped-out businesses. Designated a level 1 service, they’ll only be able to work again in the last stage of the lockdown.
Covid-19 workplace protocols must become ‘second nature’ for any further lockdown easing
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Mining Weekly reports that organised business has called for domestic firms to take steps to ensure that their workplaces are Covid-19-ready in light of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement on Sunday that the country would transition from lockdown Level 4 to Level 3 from 1 June.
Amcu again calls for testing of all employees at affiliated workplaces
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Mining Weekly reports that as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread across SA, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) has again called on employers to test all employees for Covid-19.
Educators Union of SA to take Angie Motshekga to court for reopening schools amid virus pandemic
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The Star reports that a last-ditch attempt to stop schools reopening next week is set to play out in court as the Educators Union of SA (Eusa), which apparently represents more than 27,000 teachers, challenges Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga’s “arrogance”.
SA’s auto industry proposes a host of government measures to help ensure its post Covid-19 continuity and safeguard jobs
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Moneyweb reports that SA’s automotive industry has proposed a host of liquidity relief measures to President Cyril Ramaphosa to alleviate the industry’s serious cash flow challenges and ensure its survival post Covid-19.
Tiger Brands looking at ‘significant’ job losses as it counts cost of coronavirus pandemic
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Reuters reports that food producer Tiger Brands said on Monday it was looking at “significant” job cuts as its business had been hit by supply disruptions and margin pressures due to the impact of the coronavirus.
Amcu drags labour registrar into its fight with axed deputy president Nkosikho Joni
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City Press reports that continued infighting at the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) has dragged labour registrar Letlhogonolo Molefe into its midst.