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.
Axed Old Mutual boss Peter Moyo resigns from Nedbank board
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Reuters reports that fired Old Mutual chief executive Peter Moyo has resigned from his post on the board of Nedbank, the lender said on Friday.
Coronavirus, lack of demand forces SAA to suspend all international flights
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TimesLIVE reports that South African Airways (SAA) on Friday announced that it would immediately suspend all international operations until the end of May, in response to a government travel ban aimed at stopping the transmission of the coronavirus.
Private security employer body up in arms over establishment of ‘illegitimate’ bargaining council
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BusinessLive reports that an association representing private security company owners is up in arms over a recently established bargaining council in the sector, claiming it lacks legitimacy.
Transport union Untu calls on Mbalula to put the brakes on trains until 14 April
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The Citizen reports that the United National Transport Union (Untu) has called for the suspension of train services as a measure to derail the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Thursday, 19 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
Thursday, 19 March 2020.
Gauteng government staffers ditch work amid fears of the spread of coronavirus
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News24 reports that staff at the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements, Urban Planning and Cogta abandoned their posts amid fears of the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).
'We don't feel safe', say Gauteng doctors on the front line against coronavirus
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SowetanLive reports on the words of a medical practitioner who works at a public hospital where tests are done to detect Covid-19 and who said: “I don’t feel safe as a doctor. The practice we are working from is [near] OR Tambo [International Airport] and a lot of the patients we see on a daily basis work at the airport.”
Steel beams on truck crush cab and kill driver on Wednesday near Vereeniging
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TimesLIVE reports that a 35-year-old truck driver died after the load of steel beams he was transporting shifted and crushed the driver’s cab.
Second UCT staff member tests positive for Covid-19
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TimesLIVE reports that after shutting its doors on Monday in the wake of a staff member testing positive for Covid-19, the University of Cape Town (UCT) confirmed on Thursday that a second positive case had been identified.
Two senior Comair executives depart
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BusinessLive reports that Comair, the operator of low-cost airline kulula.com and British Airways (BA) in SA, announced on Tuesday that two of its senior executives were leaving the company.
Massmart announces closure of non-performing stores, is in talks with labour to mitigate job losses
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Reuters reports that Massmart announced on Thursday that it had decided to close all of its non-performing stores, as cash-strapped consumers battle with high unemployment, modest wage increases and higher average fuel and utility prices.
DA threatens to interdict Nehawu’s strike on 30 March over non-implementation of public sector wage increases
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BL Premium reports that the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) said on Wednesday that it would embark on a national day of action on 30 March as a “warning shot” to the government to honour the last part of the three-year public sector wage agreement signed in 2018, due for implementation on 1 April.
BMW shuts down Rosslyn plant for two weeks due to risks posed by Covid-19
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Moneyweb reports that BMW South Africa is to shut down its Rosslyn manufacturing plant in Pretoria for two weeks because of risks posed by Covid-19 and the resulting impact on demand for new vehicles.
Labour department unveils guidelines for managing Covid-19 at workplaces
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Engineering News reports that the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) has appealed to employers to use the prescriptions of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act in governing workplaces in relation to the Covid-19 virus.
Gold Fields, Harmony Gold take steps to prevent spread of Covid-19
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Mining Weekly reports that Gold Fields and Harmony Gold have announced measures and strategies to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Taxi industry announces plan to limit spread of Covid-19 among 16.5-million commuters
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BusinessLive reports that the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) has mapped out a plan to limit the spread of Covid-19 in the sector that provides crucial transport for an estimated 16.5-million passengers daily.
Cosatu condemns government’s ‘lethargic’ handling of occupational compensation bill
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BusinessLive reports that labour federation Cosatu has welcomed approval by the cabinet of a bill proposing the inclusion of domestic workers in the compensation for occupational diseases and injuries regime.
Consumer inflation ticks up slightly in February to 4.6%
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BusinessLive reports that annual consumer inflation ticked up slightly in February to 4.6%, from 4.5% in January, to reach its highest level in over a year, data from Statistics SA showed on Wednesday.
Mass retrenchments in food sector ahead due to higher poultry tariffs, association of meat importers warns
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BusinessLive reports that an association of meat importers and exporters has warned of mass retrenchments in the food sector after the government announced a significant hike in poultry tariffs.
Samwu postpones its national congress amid coronavirus fears
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BusinessLive reports that the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) has postponed its congress due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak.
Government to use UIF to ease burden of coronavirus on companies
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BL Premium reports that the government has offered a measure of relief in response to the looming Covid-19 crisis, indicating it will use the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to ease the burden on employees and employers.
Nehawu to ‘mobilise for battle’ as government sticks to a 0% wage hike in April
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Financial Mail reports that the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) is preparing for a fight after the government on Monday confirmed that it would not be implementing the last leg of its 2018 wage deal in the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC).
Compensation of Injury on Duty Amendment Bill a big win for domestic workers
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The Citizen reports that Cabinet’s approval of the Compensation of Injury on Duty Amendment Bill will benefit about 800,000 domestic workers, who will be able to claim for injuries sustained on duty.
Cosatu and Busa push government to use UIF funds to fight effects of coronavirus
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Bloomberg reports that the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and Business Unity SA (Busa) told the government at a meeting on Monday that it must find ways to utilise the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to finance temporary layoffs and other methods of supporting companies whose finances have been hit by the coronavirus.
Senior Hawks member gunned down and killed on Tuesday on R37 outside Mbombela
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TimesLIVE reports that a senior Hawks member was gunned down outside Mbombela, Mpumalanga, on Tuesday morning.
Gautrain bus services suspended in Rosebank on Tuesday amid concerns of drivers about Covid-19
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TimesLIVE reports that all Gautrain buses in Rosebank, Johannesburg, were cancelled on Tuesday morning after drivers raised concerns about Covid-19.
Implats boss describes Amcu’s under-fire Mathunjwa as an “extraordinary business partner”
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Miningmx reports that Nico Muller, CEO of Impala Platinum (Implats), is the latest platinum group metal (PGM) executive to strike a conciliatory note in respect of Joseph Mathunjwa, president of the Association of Mineworkers & Construction Union (Amcu).
Mbalula announces random Covid-19 screening for public transport
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BusinessLive reports that Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said on Monday that there would be random screening of passengers for the Covid-19 virus at all taxi ranks and train stations.
As Covid-19 spreads, Denosa calls for more health workers and sufficient protective clothing
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BusinessLive reports that the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa), SA’s largest nursing union, has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement declaring Covid-19 a national disaster and his sweeping measures to contain the spread of disease.
Cosatu supports a national wage strike on 30 March by Nehawu notwithstanding ban on mass gatherings
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BusinessLive reports that Cosatu intends to openly defy President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ban on mass gatherings of more than 100 people, saying it will support a planned national strike by its public sector affiliate Nehawu over cuts to the public sector wage bill.