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.
Over R2bn still not paid over to workers as UIF waits on 74,000 employers
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The Citizen reports that according to Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) Minister Thulas Nxesi, 14,113 domestic workers have benefitted from the special Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) lockdown benefit to the extent of R55,572,870.
Nearly 600 coronavirus infections in SA’s prisons
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SowetanLive reports that there has been a steep jump in the number of coronavirus infections in the prison system. On Saturday, the number of infections stood at 388, but by Sunday the number had jumped to 571.
State will kill people from other diseases by ploughing every resource into the fight against Covid-19
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SowetanLive reports that according to a group of 38 public and private healthcare doctors across the country, the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic was not sustainable and would cause serious harm to the country's healthcare system in the long run.
Fear in Limpopo community as 19 miners test positive for virus
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SowetanLive reports that fear has gripped a Limpopo village after 19 miners in the area tested positive for the deadly Covid-19. The mineworkers, employees at Impala Platinum’s (Implats’) Marula platinum mine in Diphale village, tested positive to the virus - prompting the mine to shut down operations.
Restaurant lobby group pleads with government that sector needs to open
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The Citizen reports that a restaurant lobby group has expressed disappointment that President Cyril Ramaphosa did not ease restrictions to immediately allow “call and collect” for meals’ service, but is hoping the government will allow sit-down restaurants under Level 3 of the national Covid-19 lockdown.
SAA’s business rescue practitioners castigated for raking in over R30m in fees without producing a plan
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Sunday Independent reports that SA Airway’s (SAA’s) business rescue practitioners (BRPs) are under fire for raking in over R30 million in fees without producing a plan to save the broke airline.
Hair salons and beauty salons facing ruin due to Covid-19 lockdown launch court fight to reopen
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Cape Argus reports that hair and beauty salon owners have launched an urgent interdict that could set a precedent for similar businesses.
Unions reject plan to wind SAA down and offer a 49% pay cut for two months
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TimesLIVE reports that the majority of unions representing workers at SA Airways (SAA) have rejected the proposal of the business rescue practitioners (BRP) to wind down the airline.
ConCourt dismisses bid by Solidarity/AfriForum to appeal ruling over Tourism Relief Fund, but row with tourism minister not over
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Moneyweb reports that Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has welcomed the Constitutional Court’s (ConCourt’s) dismissal on Friday of the joint Solidarity/AfriForum application to appeal and set aside the use of broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) criteria as part of the department’s R200 million Covid-19 Tourism Relief Fund for small businesses.
Gordhan’s SAA truce on the rocks as business rescuer still wants to wind airline down
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BL Premium reports that the truce between the SA Airways business rescue practitioners (BRPs) and Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) Minister Pravin Gordhan is on the rocks following a statement to a parliamentary committee on Friday that the one of the BRPs intended to submit a report for the wind-down of the company.
Organised business calls for quick move to lockdown level 2 as a matter of urgency
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BL Premium reports that in the latest sign of souring sentiment in boardrooms over a national lockdown that threatens cascading corporate failures, organised business has proposed that SA move quickly to open virtually the entire economy.
Unions say Mboweni must reverse stance on not increasing public servants’ salaries in emergency budget
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City Press reports that trade unions are calling on Finance Minister Tito Mboweni to reverse his stance on not increasing public servants’ salaries when he delivers his “emergency” revised budget next month.
Roundup on Monday, 18 May 2020 of weekend labour reports
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In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 15 May 2020.
Teacher unions warn that schools are not fit to reopen
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City Press reports that SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) general secretary Mugwena Maluleke opined on Friday that provinces would not be ready to reopen schools by 1 June.
We can’t compromise life for the sake of just making money, says labour about scramble by business to get to level 3
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City Press reports that although the parties represented at the National Economic, Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) have endorsed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s approach that large parts of SA would move to level 3 of the Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown at the end of the month, organised labour says the move to level 3 must not just be done in the interests of business.
Implats’ Marula operation put on ice after ‘cluster’ of Covid-19 cases suggests high community prevalence
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Miningmx reports that Impala Platinum (Implats) has confirmed 19 positive cases of Covid-19 at and around its Marula joint venture in Limpopo.
Eastern Cape health department call centre in East London closes after four workers test positive for Covid-19
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News24 reports that four Eastern Cape Department of Health employees assigned Covid-19 duties have tested positive for the virus.
North West police sergeant, accomplice in court for house robbery in Lichtenburg
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ANA reports that a SA Police Service (SAPS) sergeant and a civilian accomplice have been arrested and appeared briefly in court on Friday in connection with a house robbery in Lichtenberg, North West.
Netcare Sunninghill Hospital’s theatre complex to reopen after closure for a week following ‘several’ Covid-19 cases among staff
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News24 reports that Netcare confirmed on Saturday that its Sunninghill Hospital's main theatre complex had been temporarily shut for a week after several staff members tested positive for Covid-19.
Court orders that, pending probe, SANDF must suspend members present when Collins Khosa was beaten to death
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News24 reports that the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has ruled that absolute rights such as those to dignity and not to be treated or punished in a cruel, inhuman or degrading way cannot be removed, compromised or limited even during a national state of disaster and the lockdown.
IT firms go on hiring spree to keep up with services for remote working
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BL Premium reports that while many of SA’s businesses are left with no option but to trim salaries, retrench or close their doors due to the economic effects of the Covid-19 lockdown, several IT companies are looking to hire as the need for their services grows.
Unconstitutionality of Ters relief scheme challenged in that it doesn’t allow employees to apply themselves for benefits
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BusinessLive reports that according to the Casual Workers Advice Office (CWAO), the Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) is unconstitutional to the extent that it does not provide for qualifying employees to apply for the relief benefit themselves if their employers fail to do so.
Staff, patients test positive at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Town, some areas temporarily closed
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News24 reports that the Western Cape Department of Health has confirmed that a number of staff members and patients at Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital in Cape Town have tested positive for Covid-19.
Truce reached over SAA rescue plans, with establishment a new airline, Newco, formally put on the table
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BL Premium reports that the government and the business rescue practitioners (BRPs) of SA Airways (SAA) have reached a formal agreement to discuss proposals that include the establishment of a new airline as mooted by public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan.
Study shows SA’s nurses were overwhelmed and drowning in debt even before Covid-19 struck
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BusinessLive reports that according to a study conducted at a large public hospital in Johannesburg, SA’s nurses were overworked, overwhelmed, and drowning in debt even before the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Thursday, 14 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
Thursday, 14 May 2020.
Corruption at water and sanitation department sees 138 staff members charged
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The Star reports that the scourge of corruption in the Department of Water and Sanitation has seen 138 of its employees being criminally charged, with 97 of them having been found guilty.
Angie Motshekga puts off announcement about when schools will reopen
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BusinessLive reports that Department of Basic Education (DBE) Minister Angie Motshekga postponed Thursday’s planned announcement about when schools will reopen in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
After 80 years, Anglo American abandons Joburg’s inner city in favour of a single building in Rosebank
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Financial Main reports that eighty years after Anglo American first set up its headquarters in Johannesburg’s then thriving inner city, the mining giant has decided to walk away.
Correctional services’ infections continue to climb as prisoners await ‘Covid-19 parole’
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TimesLIVE reports that as the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) continues to work on applications for thousands of inmates who might be eligible for parole, the number of coronavirus infections behind bars continues to rise.