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.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 20 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
Wednesday, 20 May 2020.
With Denel unable to pay salaries, Solidarity calls for current lockdown rules to end
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EWN reports that with employees of Denel grappling with the news that the arms manufacturer cannot afford to pay salaries at the end of May, Solidarity has called for the current Covid-19 lockdown regulations to be terminated.
Teacher unions and associations claim that Motshekga’s back to school plan lacks detail
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News24 reports that the Department of Basic Education's (DBE’s) announcement on Tuesday that schools would reopen on 1 June when SA moves to Level 3 of the Covid-19 lockdown, left more questions than answers for teacher unions and associations.
Government wants mining industry to quarantine workers from epicentres of the Covid-19 pandemic
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Business Report writes that the government has encouraged the mining industry to quarantine mine workers from epicentres of the Covid-19 pandemic in a bid to curb infections in communities.
Labour Court ruling on SAA retrenchments ‘wrong’, business rescuers argue in appeal application
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Moneyweb reports that the court battle between trade unions and the business rescue practitioners (BRPs) tasked with turning SA Airways (SAA) around could have serious implications for future business rescue proceedings generally.
Schools set to open on 1 June in phased approach, starting with grades 12 and 7
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BusinessLive reports that Department of Basic Education (DBE) Minister Angie Motshekga announced on Tuesday evening that schools across SA would open on 1 June in a phased manner, starting with grades 12 and 7.
Construction industry only operating at 10% to 15% of capacity despite easing of restrictions
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Engineering News reports that despite certain sections of the construction industry returning to work under Level 4 of the national Covid-19 lockdown, the industry is currently only working at between 10% and 15% of its capacity.
NUM wants government to temporarily close all mines in Limpopo due to Covid-19 positive cases
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Mining Weekly reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) North East Region branch, in Limpopo, has called for a temporary closure of all mines in the province.
Covid-19 prevention and management programmes must be established at mines using guideline gazetted on Tuesday
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Mining Weekly reports that Covid-19 prevention, mitigation and management programmes must be established at mines using a guideline gazetted by Chief Inspector of Mines David Msiza on Tuesday.
Eastern Cape prison records 34 new Covid-19 infections, taking number of cases in SA prisons to 654
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TimesLIVE reports that SA's prison system had recorded 34 new Covid-19 infections as of Tuesday. Department of Correctional Services (DCS) spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo advised that the new cases were recorded at a facility in the Eastern Cape.
Ekurhuleni officer and accomplice arrested after armed hijacking of a truck carrying masks
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TimesLIVE reports that an Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officer and an accomplice have appeared in court charged with robbing a truck that was transporting masks.
Business rescuers assess that there is a reasonable prospect that Edcon can be saved
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BL Premium reports that Edcon, SA’s biggest corporate causality of Covid-19-induced economic distress, may still be saved according to its business rescue practitioners (BRPs).
Denel unable to pay staff in May and wage payments for June and July will also be in jeopardy, as the arms manufacturer fights to save itself
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BusinessLive reports that according to the CEO of Denel, Danie du Toit, the arms manufacturer will not be able to pay staff salaries for May, and wages for June and July are also in jeopardy.
Comair’s business rescue plan, with a reasonable chance of success, expected to be published by 9 June
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BusinessLive reports that the business rescue practitioners (BRPs) for Comair expect to publish a rescue plan in three weeks and say there is a reasonable chance of rescuing the airline given its asset base and its importance in terms of SA’s travel infrastructure.
Gauteng premier tells legislature that up to 2-million jobs could be lost in province’s version of Great Depression
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BusinessLive reports that according to Gauteng Premier David Makhura, the province will be moving to a less restrictive lockdown level at the beginning of June, which will provide much-needed relief from an unprecedented economic and human catastrophe.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 19 May 2020
- Details
In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Tuesday, 19 May 2020.
Military ombudsman probing 52 lockdown complaints against members
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EWN reports that the office of the military ombudsman has announced that it was investigating at least 52 cases from the public relating to allegations against as serving and former members of the SA national Defence Force (SANDF) during the national coronavirus lockdown.
Keen to work, but surplus Kusasalethu miners must wait in hostels until lockdown level 3
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SowetanLive reports that mineworkers who went back to their workplaces when they heard about the easing of national lockdown restrictions are now in a waiting pattern until level 3 lockdown restrictions kick in.
Skills development contract at centre of dispute between MQA and service provider
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SowetanLive reports that the quality of a six-month skills training programme given to 80 unemployed youth at a cost of R11m has been brought into question.
Angie Motshekga still consulting on Tuesday morning about plans to reopen schools
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BusinessLive reports that Department of Basic Education (DBE) Minister Angie Motshekga told MPs on Tuesday morning that she was still consulting teachers, governing bodies and students about plans to reopen schools.
SA Express tells employees their contracts are suspended and not to return to work due to provisional liquidation
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BusinessLive reports that employees of SA Express have been told they will not be paid and that they must not return to work, as their contracts of employment have been suspended due to the provisional liquidation of the airline.
Three more Eastern Cape police stations close for deep cleaning due to Covid-19 infection
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News24 reports that three more Eastern Cape police stations have been shut for decontamination and deep cleaning due to exposure to cases of the coronavirus.
Free State ready to put 17 Cuban doctors to work in the province in fight against coronavirus
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News24 reports that the Free State government has welcomed the deployment of 17 Cuban doctors to assist the province in the fight against the coronavirus.
Two Cape Town police sergeants in court for corruption following 11-month long investigation
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News24 reports that two Cape Town police officers appeared in the Athlone Magistrate's Court on Monday for alleged corruption.
Calgro M3 Holdings closes construction division, retrenches 150 employees
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Moneyweb reports that about 150 employees at property and private memorial parks developer Calgro M3 Holdings have been retrenched, following a decision by the group to close its construction division.
Armed gang holds up security guards at gunpoint, breaks into Durban liquor store
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SowetanLive reports that an armed gang escaped with loot of alcohol after breaking into a liquor store in Berea, Durban, on Tuesday morning.
MQA trainees without practical training struggle to find jobs
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SowetanLive reports on the cases of a number of unemployed persons who underwent skills development training funded by the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) but who are unable to find jobs even though they received their certificates.
Probe into conduct of JMPD officers at scene of Collins Khosa’s death to be finalised on Tuesday
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TimesLIVE reports that the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) on Monday said it expected the report into an investigation into the conduct of officers who were at the scene when an Alexandra man was allegedly beaten to death to be completed on Tuesday.
Amcu urges government to make universal Covid-19 testing for mineworkers mandatory
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Mining Weekly reports that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) has reiterated its call for universal Covid-19 testing of all mineworkers.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Monday, 18 May 2020
- Details
In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Monday, 18 May 2020.