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.
SAA and unions to resume talks over retrenchments
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Moneyweb reports that the SA Airways (SAA) business rescue practitioners (BRPs) and labour are set to resume consultations on retrenchments on Wednesday.
Formal sector jobs grew marginally at end of 2019, but that was before Covid-19
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BusinessLive reports that Stats SA data revealed on Tuesday that annual growth in formal sector jobs rose marginally in the final quarter of 2019, driven by growth in community services, trade and business services.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 31 March 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, 31 March 2020.
Certain office bearers and members of judiciary get backdated salary hikes
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The Star reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has published in the government gazette a determination of salaries and allowances for certain categories of public servants and some members of the judiciary.
Workforce Holdings says national minimum wage hike has hit its clients
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BusinessLive reports that labour services group Workforce Holding said on Tuesday that the recent increase in the national minimum wage (NMW) was having an effect on some of its clients.
Cosatu’s unions declare dispute over public sector salary increases due on 1 April
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BusinessLive reports that Cosatu’s public sector unions have declared a wage dispute with the government over salary increases due in April, thereby leading the way to possible court action.
Netcare warns 21-day lockdown might not be long enough to achieve intended goal
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BusinessLive reports that private hospital group Netcare says the three-week lockdown initiated by President Cyril Ramaphosa might not be long enough to achieve the government’s aim of slowing the spread of Covid-19 to prevent the health system from being overwhelmed.
Coca-Cola wins round one in battle against SAB over BEE benefit payouts to former employees
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BL Premium reports that Coca-Cola Beverages SA (CCBSA) has won its urgent application relating to the payout by SABMiller of BEE benefits to its former employees.
Concern over conduct of law enforcement officers after three lockdown-related deaths
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News24 reports that the conduct of police and the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) in the first four days of the national Covid-19 lockdown has come into sharp focus.
New Metair project will create 3,200 jobs, mostly in SA
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Moneyweb reports that automotive component manufacturer Metair Investments is confident that a business opportunity it has secured, which will create 3,200 new jobs, will still materialise and has not been destroyed by the coronavirus.
MTN Group CEO Rob Shuter paid R58.2m in 2019
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Moneyweb reports that MTN Group CEO Rob Shuter was paid R58.2 million in the 2019 financial year, a 35.7% increase on his total remuneration for 2018.
Employees of international call centre in Durban evacuated over lockdown violations
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TimesLIVE reports that an international call centre based in SA has drawn the ire of union federation Cosatu and the KwaZulu-Natal department of economic development, tourism and environmental affairs for allegedly forcing workers to continue working during the national lockdown and threatening pay cuts for those who refuse.
Cosatu wants PIC to pressurise malls into giving Edcon stores rental holidays
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BL Premium reports that in a bid to save Edcon, trade union federation Cosatu wants the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) to pressure landlords to provide the retailer with a rental holiday.
Local companies urged to free up their protective equipment for health workers
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BusinessLive reports that Business SA (BSA), a new initiative to help the government’s response to Covid-19, has issued an urgent call to companies to release their supplies of masks, gowns and gloves to protect health-care staff tackling the virus.
Bus companies and transport unions reach 6% wage agreement, averting possibility of strike
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BusinessLive reports that bus companies have reached a wage agreement with trade unions, averting a possible strike in the sector that has already been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lockdown is legal, says Constitutional Court as it dismisses NGO's application to have it declared unconstitutional
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TimesLIVE reports that the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) has dismissed an application by a civil society organisation to have President Cyril Ramaphosa's lockdown declared unconstitutional.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Monday, 30 March 2020
- Details
In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Monday, 30 March 2020.
East Rand metro cop and security officer on murder charge after fatal lockdown enforcement
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TimesLIVE reports that an Ekurhuleni metro police department (EMPD) officer and a second man have been arrested in connection with a deadly shooting incident during a Covid-19 lockdown enforcement operation in Vosloorus on Sunday.
Treasury outlines details of R15bn business relief for coronavirus lockdown and its aftermath
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BusinessLive reports that the National Treasury has provided details of the relief measures to assist businesses deal with the effects of the three week national lockdown and its aftermath.
No more taxpayers’ money for state-owned regional airline SA Express
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Engineering News reports that the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) issued a press release on Sunday regarding the business rescue process for state-owned regional airline SA Express.
Bemawu accuses SABC of ‘concealing’ employee’s Covid-19 infection, threatens to sue
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The Star reports that Hannes Du Buisson, president of the Broadcasting Electronic Media and Allied Workers’ Union (Bemawu), has accused the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) of endangering the lives of its employees by “concealing” the infection of a worker at its Auckland Park headquarters.
Ambulance crew robbed by gunmen on Sunday night in Winterveld in Pretoria while assisting patient
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News24 reports that the Gauteng Department of Health has condemned an attack on Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workers on Sunday night in Winterveld, Pretoria North.
Chinese national who locked workers in Durban factory to make masks, granted R20,000 bail
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TimesLIVE reports that a 53-year-old Chinese national has been granted R20,000 bail in the Durban Magistrate's Court in connection with charges related to contravening the Disaster Management Act.
Increase in attacks on Western Cape ambulance crews a big worry
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Cape Argus reports that attacks on ambulance crews in the Western Cape continue unabated with four of the latest assaults happening in one week.
DA calls for military ombudsman to investigate abusive behaviour by SANDF members during lockdown
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Independent News reports that the behaviour of SA National Defence Force (SANDF) members during the country's nationwide lockdown has come under scrutiny, with videos surfacing on social media showing soldiers allegedly abusing their power.
Some employers trying to shift lockdown burden onto employees rather than using relief scheme, others not providing safety gear
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The Star reports that Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) Minister Thulas Nxesi has revealed that they were receiving resistance from some employers in connection with the payment of workers through the financial assistance the DEL has provided by way of the Covid-19 relief scheme.
North West man arrested for biting, stabbing cop
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News24 report that a 29-year-old man was arrested over the weekend after he allegedly bit and stabbed a police officer during a crime prevention operation.
Recruitment stalls as advertised posts are frozen
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Business Times reports that, with SA on shutdown to try to slow the spread of Covid-19, companies are freezing posts they previously advertised.
Labour laws are still in effect notwithstanding lockdown
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In a letter to the editor of Business Day, MP and well-known labour analyst Michael Bagraim notes that there has been a lot of confusion over labour issues arising from the Covid-19 lockdown.
Public transport hours extended to assist social grant recipients
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News24 reports that Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has extended the hours during which public transport services are allowed to operate to accommodate social grant recipients.