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.
Taxi drivers say Coronavirus is worse than Aids and government should provide free masks
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City Press reports that taxi drivers have expressed the sentiment that, if the government was able to give them free condoms, it should now provide them with free masks, “at a time when our health is clearly in imminent danger”.
Gauteng health department has paid R790,000 to 13 suspended employees
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News24 reports that according to the Democratic Alliance’s (DA’s) Jack Bloom, the Gauteng Department of Health (DOH) has paid 13 suspended employees undergoing disciplinary hearings R790,000.
Ahead of bargaining council meeting on Tuesday, unions tell the state to protect frontline workers against coronavirus
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City Press reports that as cases of the Covid-19 coronavirus continue to rise in SA, workers’ unions are making their voices heard.
Amcu’s deputy president Nkosikho Joni to take court action over suspension
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City Press reports that Nkosikho Joni, deputy president of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), says he will be starting legal proceedings against the union.
Telkom to spend R1.5bn on first phase of job cuts
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BusinessLive reports that Telkom shares dropped almost 17% on Friday after the company said job cuts would cost R1.5bn. The telecoms group has started the first phase of its retrenchment process that will result in a total 3,000 jobs being lost.
Nedlac meeting on Monday to discuss economic and labour effects of coronavirus
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BusinessLive reports that the economic and labour effect of the rapidly spreading coronavirus will come under the spotlight when the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) discusses the matter on Monday.
Prasa suspends 12 senior officials on ‘gross misconduct’ allegations
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BusinessLive reports that the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa), which was placed under administration in December, has suspended 12 senior officials for allegations of gross misconduct emanating from various investigations.
More than 77% of farm workers are not unionised, department of employment and labour study shows
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BusinessLive reports that a study by the Department of Employment & Labour (DEL) has found that 77.7% of workers in the agricultural sector are not unionised, with 25% of the employees saying their salaries were decided solely by the employer.
SABC to axe more than 30 radio sports bulletin readers
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City Press reports that more than 30 SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) radio sports bulletin readers are facing a bleak future.
Unions fear job losses at Sasol after share price collapse
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SowetanLive reports that trade unions have expressed concern that the free falling share price of Sasol could inevitably result in a jobs bloodbath.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Thursday, 12 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, 12 March 2020.
Three former senior employees accused of defrauding National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) of R93m
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The Star reports that an elaborate R93-million scheme to defraud the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) was allegedly orchestrated by three of its former senior managers, who worked in tandem with a convicted fraudster.
Cabinet adopts bill for occupational disease and injury compensation cover for domestic workers
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BusinessLive reports that the Cabinet has approved the submission of a bill to parliament that proposes the inclusion of domestic workers in the coverage of compensation for occupational diseases and injuries.
SAHRC hears evidence on steps taken to stop attacks on foreign long-distance truck drivers
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The Star reports that more stakeholders have appeared before the SA Humans Rights Commission (SAHRC) to report on the role they have played in reducing the attacks on foreign long-distance truck drivers.
Pension payout of fired NHLS CEO to be withheld until damages claim against her is finalised
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News24 reports that the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), together with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), has secured an order from the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria allowing it to not pay out any pension benefits to its former CEO Joyce Mogale.
Government’s public sector wage bill plan headed down a dead end
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Financial Mail writes that the government’s review of the three-year 2018 public sector wage agreement, announced last month, may just turn out to be a damp squib.
Five Free State traffic officials bust for truck driving license racket
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TimesLIVE reports that five traffic officials are among nine people arrested over truck licences issued in the Free State to people who never actually took the tests.
Construction sector sheds thousands of jobs as it faces late payments, community mafias
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Engineering News reports that around 90,000 formal jobs were lost in the SA construction industry from June 2018 to September 2019, according to construction market intelligence firm Industry Insight.
Five Sassa employees in KZN arrested for fraud
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TimesLIVE reports that five SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) employees in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) have been nabbed for alleged fraud by the Hawks.
Government spends millions on suspended employees
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BusinessLive reports that national government departments spent R22m on suspensions of employees in the three months from July to September last year, a sharp increase from the R8m spent in the previous three months.
Glencore’s Astron refinery in Cape Town embroiled in pay dispute
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Bloomberg reports that contractors at Astron Energy’s Cape Town refinery, owned by Glencore, are protesting over pay as the company pursues a turnaround at the plant.
Amcu under threat of deregistration over its accounts and legitimacy of leaders
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Financial Mail reports that the Association of Mineworkers & Construction Union (Amcu) is under threat of deregistration, this time over alleged irregularities in its finances and the legitimacy of key office bearers, including its president, Joseph Mathunjwa.
Sans Souci teacher back in court on Wednesday for slapping pupil
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News24 reports that a Sans Souci Girls' High School teacher was back in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court on Wednesday morning after an assault charge was reinstated against her.
Durban city manager in court for R500m tender fraud
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ANA reports that the city manager of eThekwini municipality, Sipho Nzuza, appeared in the Durban Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday for his alleged role in the nearly R500 million fraudulent tender scheme that contributed to the “redeployment” of former city mayor Zandile Gumede.
Labour Court temporarily lifts municipal union Demawusa's deregistration
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The Star reports that Saftu’s municipal affiliated union, Demawusa, has accused the Department of Employment and Labour of sinister political motives after the union won interim relief against its deregistration on Tuesday.
Employers indicate limited or no intentions to hire in second quarter of 2020
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Engineering News reports that recruitment solutions company ManpowerGroup has found that SA employees have little to no intention to hire new employees during the second quarter of 2020.
Labour department launches new workplace regulations dealing with ergonomics
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BusinessTech reports that the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) has launched new ergonomic regulations that aim to prevent occupational diseases and injuries relating to ergonomic hazards in workplaces.
Western Cape 2020 budget sees more law enforcement officers, trimming of staff expenses
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Engineering News reports that safety has been prioritised by the Western Cape in its 2020 budget, with R4-billion allocated for this purpose in the medium term.
Tshiamiso Trust almost ready to start assessing gold mining silicosis claims
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Mining Weekly reports that Tshiamiso Trust chairperson Professor May Hermanus has confirmed that the trust structure, including drafting of its policies and the recruitment of staff, is nearly complete.
Chemical union Ceppwawu calls for employers to stop using breathalysers due to coronavirus threat
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BusinessLive reports that the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers' Union (Ceppwawu) has called on employers to stop using breathalysers in an effort aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus in SA.