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.
Twenty-six confirmed Covid-19 cases at East London prison, most of whom are warders
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TimesLIVE reports that there are 26 confirmed coronavirus cases at the East London Correctional Centre, three of whom are female inmates and 23 of whom are officials working at the Westbank centre.
Electronic food voucher relief plan set up for waste reclaimers during national lockdown
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BusinessLive reports that the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries has teamed up with the packaging industry to provide food vouchers to waste reclaimers to cushion them from the hardships brought by the national lockdown.
Public sector unions prepare for legal action over salary increases due in April
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BusinessLive reports that public sector unions have indicated that if necessary they will be mounting a legal challenge this week to force the government to implement a wage increase for public servants in April.
Cancellation of school holidays to catch up lost time 'not concrete', says Sadtu
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News24 reports that Mugwena Maluleke, general secretary of the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu), says that suggestions that school holidays could be scrapped for the remainder of the year to make up for lost time are not concrete.
FirstRand executives latest to donate 30% of their salaries to government’s Solidarity Fund
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EWN reports that top executives at financial services company FirstRand on Saturday were the latest business leaders who committed to forgo 30% of their salaries for three months to contribute money to the government’s coronavirus Solidarity Fund.
Naamsa survey shows automotive industry might have to lay off 10% of workers due to lockdown
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Reuters reports that SA’s automotive industry might have to lay off up to 10% of its workforce because of the national coronavirus lockdown, according to an industry-wide survey conducted by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa).
Public servants still in limbo over wage increases due in April in terms of 2018 agreement
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BusinessLive reported last week that public servants were still in limbo over whether they would receive salary increases in April in line with a standing wage agreement.
Old Mutual, Liberty temporarily drop insurance cover for retrenchments
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EWN reports that Old Mutual last week announced that it had temporarily closed its retrenchment cover product so it could determine a fair and reasonable price once the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic had been factored in.
Amcu wants heightened safety regulations to apply across mining before returning to work
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BusinessLive reports that as the mining industry debates the consequences of the 21-day lockdown and its possible extension, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) has suggested heightened safety regulations to apply across the sector to clear the way for restarting mines.
Nehawu withdraws case against state over personal protective equipment for front-line health-care workers
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Reuters reports that the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) has withdrawn a court case against the government over shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for front-line health workers treating patients with Covid-19.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 8 April 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, 8 April 2020.
With more than 3‚500 applications for sports, arts and culture relief programme, deadline not extended
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BusinessLive reports that more than 3‚500 applications have been made for the R150m relief fund set up by the Department of Sports‚ Arts and Culture.
Farmworkers' groups call for better transport measures after deadly crash kills nine and injures 18
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EWN reports that farming organisations have called on authorities to implement stricter measures in transporting farmworkers after nine workers died in a crash.
Epidemiologist to investigate Covid-19 outbreak at St Augustine's hospital in Durban
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TimesLIVE reports that acclaimed epidemiologist Prof Salim Abdool Karim will lead an investigation into the outbreak of the coronavirus at St Augustine's hospital in Durban.
Support for ailing tourism sector will be guided by BEE, minister insists
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BusinessLive reports that tourism minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has insisted that support for distressed firms and establishments in the sector would be guided by empowerment (B-BBEE) codes.
Eastplats gets permission to restart work under essential services order
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BusinessLive reports that Eastern Platinum (Eastplats) has received permission to restart tailings retreatment at its Crocodile River Mine in the North West.
Old Mutual provides R4bn in free insurance coverage to 430,000 health-care workers
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BusinessLive reports that insurance group Old Mutual is providing R4bn worth of free cover for the 430,000 healthcare workers on the front-lines of the Covid-19 outbreak.
On visit to Roodepoort testing site, Joburg mayor hears about minimal resources for healthcare workers
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News24 reports that Johannesburg mayor Geoff Makhubo visited a Covid-19 testing site at District C in Roodepoort on Tuesday, where he heard concerns over minimal resources for healthcare workers.
Some 2,300 Telkom employees opt for voluntary severance packages
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Fin24 reports that around 2,300 Telkom employees have opted for voluntary severance packages since the start of a business restructuring process early this year.
Saftu’s Zwelinzima Vavi discharged from hospital after contracting Covid-19
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TimesLIVE reports that labour movement leader Zwelinzima Vavi has been discharged from hospital and is resting in isolation at home after having contracted Covid-19.
Santaco aims for lockdown compensation of R250 a day for taxi drivers
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News24 reports that the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) is aiming at compensation of R250 a day for taxi drivers for the losses they are suffering during the country's 21-day coronavirus lockdown.
With SA already battling record unemployment, Reserve Bank forecasts 370,000 job losses this year
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Fin24 reports that according to early projections by the SA Reserve Bank (SARB), SA could lose about 370,000 jobs this year as a result of the national lockdown and initiatives to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize assures health workers of protection against Covid-19
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BL Premium reports that Health Minister Zweli Mkhize moved on Tuesday to assure health-care professionals that they would have all the equipment they needed to protect themselves against Covid-19.
UIF’s R30bn benefit for workers hit by lockdown finalised and ready for claims
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BL Premium reports that the special Covid-19 lay-off benefit that will operate through the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) was finalised on Tuesday when business, labour and government finally reached agreement on the scheme in Nedlac.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 7 April 2020
- Details
In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Tuesday, 7 April 2020.
Bloemfontein Celtic players could face salary cuts due to Covid-19
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SowetanLive reports that Bloemfontein Celtic have become the first Premier Soccer League club to concede that it might have to ask its players to accept salary cuts as a direct result of the coronavirus crisis.
Anglo commits to spend R2.4bn weekly on services and wages in preparation for Covid-19 recovery
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Miningmx reports that Anglo American has set out its plans for supporting employees, communities and business during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Transnet confirms its first positive Covid-19 case
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Independent News reports that Transnet has confirmed that a member of its staff has tested positive for Covid-19, with the case having been reported on 2 April.
Nehawu’s court action against health department over PPE to be heard by Labour Court on Tuesday
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The Star reports that health-care workers in the public sector in the front line of the coronavirus battle are beginning to down tools. This as the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) instituted legal action against Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize.
Taxi ranks in Gauteng to be disinfected every three days to help curb Covid-19
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DispatchLive reports that as part of a Gauteng transport department initiative, all taxi ranks in Gauteng will be sanitised every three days in the fight against Covid-19.