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.
Nehawu in court action to stop Sassa switching to new biometric system and to also strike
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Business Day reports that the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) intends to apply for a court interdict barring the use of a biometric system to enrol SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) beneficiaries.
Government foresees upcoming period of huge employment creation
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BusinessLive reports that by government projections, in two years’ time the South African economy will create 825,000 direct and indirect jobs annually.
Working conditions in public service come under scrutiny after suicide of parliamentary staffer
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BusinessLive reports that working conditions in the public service have recently come under sharp scrutiny after a senior staffer in parliament committed suicide in protest against alleged bullying by an ANC MP.
Case to prevent firing of employees who won’t return to 'death trap' Poyntons building postponed
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News24 reports that the court application lodged by 21 Department of Correctional Services (DCS) employees, who want to stop the department from firing them for refusing to return to their offices at the Poyntons Building in Pretoria, was postponed on Monday.
Numsa goes on strike over transformation at Toyota SA’s KZN plant
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ANA reports that workers affiliated to the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) have gone on strike at Toyota as a result of an impasse over transformation in the car manufacturer’s plant in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Monday, 8 October 2018
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In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Monday, 8 October 2018.
Numsa fighting at ConCourt for workers fired for not snitching
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The Star reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has told the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) that workers should not be dismissed for refusing to tell on their colleagues as this practice was inherently dangerous and risky.
Nehawu strike at Sassa to commence on Wednesday, ‘not just for workers but also for beneficiaries’
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The Citizen reports that the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) announced on Monday its programme of action and details of its nationwide strike action at the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa).
Nzimande urges Prasa, Rail Safety Regulator to resolve impasse over safety of trains out of court
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ANA reports that transport minister Blade Nzimande on Monday appealed to both the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) and Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) to find an out of court settlement in the interests of millions of commuters who daily used Metrorail.
Vavi can’t afford medical aid, he tells tweeter who made assumptions about his lifestyle
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The Citizen reports that Zwelinzima Vavi, general secretary of the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), lambasted a Twitter follower for making assumptions about his lifestyle and pointed out that he cannot afford medical aid.
Ubank hit for reckless lending to a Harmony mineworker
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SowetanLive reports that Ubank has learnt the hard way not to lend its clients more than they can afford to repay. It has been found to have recklessly lent a mineworker R225,727 over five months without a proper credit assessment.
CCMA orders SABC to reinstate fired station manager, with backpay of R890,000
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Sowetan reports that former Ligwalagwala FM station manager Rio Mabunda successfully appealed his dismissal at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) last week.
Absa CE Maria Ramos says job creation is a joint effort as the President can’t do it alone
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Business Report writes that President Cyril Ramaphosa begins preparations for his investment summit later this month on a high after securing backing from some of the country’s biggest conglomerates to assist his jobs creation drive.
PE recruitment company suspends manager who allegedly called colleague and his union representative 'monkeys'
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TimesLive reports that a Port Elizabeth woman who allegedly referred to a colleague and his union representatives as “monkeys” has been suspended for using the racial slur at the offices of Workforce Staffing in Newton Park.
Railway safety regulator fears dire consequences after yet another Metrorail accident
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TimesLive reports that as the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) pushes to have Prasa's permit suspended‚ another Metrorail train accident has been reported.
Three security guards among cash-in-transit heist suspects
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TimesLive reports that ten people arrested in a connection with a cash-in-transit heist in the North West were due to appear in the Mahikeng Magistrate's Court on Monday‚ the Hawks indicated.
Businesses agree at Jobs Summit on disclosure in financial statements of wage gaps
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BusinessLive reports that it was agreed at last week’s Jobs Summit that the wage gap between the highest and lowest paid and between men and women should be disclosed in company financial statements.
National Skills Fund blown on 'soft degrees' rather than artisan training
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Sunday Times Business Times reports that according to Mvuyisi Macikama, CEO of the National Skills Fund (NSF), billions of rands earmarked by for the development of badly needed artisans have been blown by the government on university students instead.
Skilled nurse shortage could hobble implementation of National Health Insurance
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BL PREMIUM writes that with the final implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI) fast approaching, the need for skilled nurses is in sharp focus and there is uncertainty on whether SA will be able to fill the gap in time.
Roundup on Monday, 8 October 2018 of weekend labour reports
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In our roundup of weekend news, see
summaries of our selection of South African
labour-related stories that appeared since
Friday, 5 October 2018.
Eskom denies report that it plans to sell off core assets
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EWN reports that Eskom has refuted claims by the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) that it is planning to sell its core assists to avoid bankruptcy.
Cosatu disappointed business didn’t commit at Jobs Summit to freeze on job cuts
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EWN reports that labour federation Cosatu says that while it’s satisfied with many of the outcomes of the Jobs Summit, it's disappointed that the business sector couldn't commit to a freeze on job losses.
Village Main Reef concludes three-year wage agreement with NUM, Solidarity and Uasa
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The Minerals Council SA (MCSA – previously called the Chamber of Mines) advised on Friday that Village Main Reef had concluded a wage agreement with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), Solidarity and Uasa.
Death threat that she will be dead by today hangs over Richmond municipal manager
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Sunday Tribune reports that Bongiwe Mnikathi was upbeat when she was appointed municipal manager at Richmond Municipality, but, more than a year later, she now fears for her life.
Unbundling, sale of Eskom core assets could be on cards, but Saftu vows to fight to ‘last drop of blood’
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The Sunday Independent writes that plans to privatise Eskom emerged after senior executives met last week at a closed executive forum, “Eskom cannot save itself”.
Jobs Summit produced over 70 strategies to deal with unemployment crisis
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BusinessLive reports that according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, the outcomes of the two-day jobs summit that ended on Friday were building blocks for the upcoming investment summit to be held in two weeks with the aim of raising R1.3-trillion in five years.
Parliament commits to independent probe of circumstances surrounding official’s suicide
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News24 reports that parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said in a statement on Saturday that an independent inquiry into the suicide of a parliamentary official would be instituted.
Prasa’s trains will operate as usual after court action to halt possible safety permit suspension
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News24 reports that Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) announced on Sunday that its trains would continue to operate, despite a possible suspension by the Rail Safety Regulator (RSR).
Hospersa members threaten shutdown of KZN public health services
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GroundUp reports that members of the Health & Other Services Personnel Trade Union of SA (Hospersa) have threatened a total shutdown of public health services if their demands are not met by the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) department of health within 14 days.
Suspension of Prasa’s safety permit could result in nationwide shutdown of all rail services
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City Press reports that according to the City of Cape Town, the possible suspension of the Passenger Railway Agency of SA’s (Prasa’s) safety permit could result in a nationwide shutdown of Metrorail services.