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.
Let more people go to work during lockdown, Institute of Race Relations urges
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BusinessLive reports that the government should soften its restrictions on who is permitted to work away from home during the lockdown, to mitigate its effect on the economy and give it the best chance of curbing the transmission of Covid-19.
How much Maria Ramos got paid on leaving Absa and what new CEO Daniel Mminele will earn this year
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Moneyweb reports that Maria Ramos, who retired as Absa Group CEO at the end of February 2019, was paid R3.8 million for her two months’ work in 2019 at the banking group.
Pam Golding Properties cuts salaries, suspends pension fund contributions as coronavirus lockdown bites
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Fin24 reports that property giant Pam Golding Properties (PGP) will be instituting salary cuts and reduced working hours as the effect of the coronavirus lockdown takes its toll on the company.
Staff at Shoprite and Checkers get daily temperature checks, plastic face shields
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Business Insider reports that Shoprite and Checkers have rolled out daily temperature testing of their employees at the start of their shifts. A high temperature is typically the first symptom of Covid-19.
Accident at Gold One’s Springs mine leaves one employee dead
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News24 reports that an accident on Friday at Gold One’s Modder East mine in Springs, Gauteng, has left one man dead. The employee's body has been retrieved and handed over to the police.
Bellville vehicles crime unit busts five cops and two admin clerks for fraudulent vehicle clearances
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News24 reports that five police sergeants and two administrative clerks were arrested on Thursday in Bellville, Langa and Paarl for fraud and corruption.
With SA airlines set to lose R40bn and 186,800 jobs at risk, Iata pleads for Covid-19 help from government
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Fin24 reports that according to the latest projections by the International Air Transport Association (Iata), the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the SA airline industry could amount to 10.7 million fewer passengers transported and a loss of about R40 billion.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Thursday, 2 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
Thursday, 2 April 2020.
Eight KZN paramedics ‘refuse’ to ferry infected patient because of lack of protective gear and training
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SowetanLive reports that a group of eight paramedics in KwaZulu-Natal allegedly refused to transport a Covid-19 patient last month after claiming that they were not provided with protective gear or adequate training.
Union, mines clash over continued operations during lockdown
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The Citizen reports that mining houses and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) are at loggerheads over concerns expressed by the union about some mining companies continuing their operations, despite the declaration of a 21-day lockdown as a measure to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Sadtu claims that KZN teacher got virus at hospital
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The Citizen reports that the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) is adamant that a KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) schoolteacher who succumbed to Covid-19 was infected with the disease at a local hospital.
Western Cape premier turns to cops to curb attacks on paramedics in Western Cape
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News24 reports that with paramedics having again come under attack, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has held high-level talks with the police.
Public servants’ wage increases on ice as unions move to declare dispute
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Fin24 reports that an increase in the wages of public servants, which was originally due to kick in on 1 April in terms of a wage agreement reached in 2018, is still on ice.
Saftu’s Zwelinzima Vavi tests positive for Covid-19
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News24 reports that SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has tested positive for Covid-19. He told eNCA during an interview on Thursday that he had no idea how he was exposed to the novel coronavirus.
KZN health-care workers hardest hit by shortages of personal protective gear
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The Mercury reports that health-care workers at the forefront of the Covid-19 pandemic in public hospitals are concerned about their health and safety, as they are expected to work without masks and protective gear.
SABC evacuates parts of TV centre in Auckland Park in effort to contain spread of Covid-19
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HeraldLive reports that the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has evacuated several parts of its TV centre building in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Duduza Clinic in Ekurhuleni closed after nurse tests positive for Covid-19
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TimesLIVE reports that the City of Ekurhuleni closed the Duduza Clinic indefinitely on Wednesday after a nurse tested positive for the coronavirus.
‘Unions risk rendering themselves irrelevant if they remain locked in ideological fortresses’
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Natasha Marrian writes that no-one can predict what our country will look like on the other side of the present health and economic crises.
Contract waste workers in Ekurhuleni defy lockdown to protest over unpaid wages
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The Citizen reports that 150 waste removal workers employed by a waste removal contractor appointed by the City of Ekurhuleni this week defied lockdown regulations by staging a protest in Palm Ridge over unpaid wages.
Nxesi adds confusion to issue of whether employers can force employees to take annual leave during lockdown
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BL Premium writes that confusion abounds on the rights and obligations of employees and employers during the economic shutdown and at a televised briefing on Tuesday labour minister Thulas Nxesi did a good job of adding to the confusion.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 1 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, 1 April 2020.
Fraudulent essential-service permits revoked
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The Citizen reports that the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) has cancelled fraudulent certificates allowing companies to trade as essential services during the 21-day national lockdown.
New virus, old wounds, as frontline Covid-19 workers in Gauteng demand better pay
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News24 reports that community health workers could soon be on the front lines of the fight against the coronavirus without the masks and other protective gear they need to stay healthy, says the secretary of the Gauteng Community Health Care Forum Tshepo Matoko.
DA calls for Senzo Mchunu to be fired as DPSA minister if he fails to cut the public wage bill
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The Citizen reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire the minister for public service and administration, Senzo Mchunu, if he fails to cut the public wage bill by at least R37.8 billion in the 2020/21 financial year.
Tragic job losses of over 100,000 on the cards for Edcon
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Moneyweb writes that the prospect of more than 100,000 people losing their jobs was grimly tagged by a conference call between Edcon CEO Grant Pattison and suppliers just hours before SA entered its coronavirus lockdown.
New lockdown rules let taxis carry usual number of passengers, provided they wear masks
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SowetanLive reports that Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has amended regulations governing public transport during the lockdown to extend taxi operating hours and allow them to carry up to 100% of their passenger capacity — provided passengers wear masks.
UIF benefits for workers affected by Covid-19 to be paid out through bargaining councils and firms during lockdown
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BusinessLive reports that the government is putting measures in place for payment of unemployment insurance benefits to workers affected by Covid-19 through their companies and bargaining councils.
Paul Hanratty to take the helm at Sanlam during a critical time for SA
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BusinessLive reports that Sanlam, Africa’s biggest life insurer, has appointed a former executive from its rival Old Mutual as its new CEO, replacing the retiring Ian Kirk.
Ga-Rankuwa health fieldworkers call for protective gear against Covid-19
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Pretoria News reports that health fieldworkers looking after the frail and elderly residents of Ga-Rankuwa, north of Pretoria, have pleaded with the government to supply them with protective gear to help keep them safe while working in the community.
Nehawu slams government over non-payment on Wednesday of salary increases
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Independent News reports that the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has slammed the government for blaming the Covid-19 pandemic and the country’s economic woes for its plans not to increase the salaries of its 1.3 million employees from Wednesday.