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.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 18 July 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
Wednesday, 18 July 2018.
Probe into deaths at copper mine a priority for Mineral Resources Minister
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SowetanLive reports that Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has ordered a speedy investigation into the cause of a fire that killed six miners at a copper mine in Phalaborwa, Limpopo.
Road Passenger Bargaining Council orders Putco to pay wage increase
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Fin24 reports that that SA Road Passenger Bargaining Council (SARPBC) has ordered bus operator Putco to pay 7% of the 9% wage increase applicable this year and to pay the remaining 2% from January 2019.
Anglo American to close its SA corporate office defined benefit pension fund
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Moneyweb reports that Anglo American has advised pensioners that it will be closing the Anglo American Corporation Pension Fund (AACPF).
Public not sufficiently concerned about impact of NHI, says Solidarity
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ANA reports that trade union Solidarity said on Wednesday the SA’s proposed national health insurance (NHI) would have the opposite effect of its aim to give all citizens decent access to health care.
World-first sanitaryware machine a launch pad for rural jobs
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The Citizen reports that a machine that will produce the world’s first biodegradable menstrual hygiene pads has been unveiled at the historic Liliesleaf Farm, as part of the Nelson Mandela centenary commemorations.
Harambee’s ‘dating service’ approach to work gets young people into jobs
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Thomson Reuters Foundation reports on Harambee, a South African "youth employment accelerator" that links talent-hungry businesses with promising poor kids.
June consumer inflation accelerates to 4.6% as fuel prices bite
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BusinessLive reports that the consumer price index (CPI) rose 4.6% in June from a year earlier, thanks mainly to rising fuel prices.
Cosatu calls for scrapping of VAT increase and for more VAT-exempt products
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GroundUp reports that about 50 workers affiliated to labour federation Cosatu gathered outside Parliament on Monday to call for the increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) to be scrapped.
KZN nurses march to provincial legislature calling for health MEC to be removed
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GroundUp reports that hundreds of nurses from across KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) marched to the provincial legislature in Pietermaritzburg on Monday seeking to get the MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, removed.
Wage talks in gold mining sector set to resume on Wednesday
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ANA reports that wage negotiations in the gold mining sector are expected to resume on Wednesday, when the Minerals Council SA (previously known as the Chamber of Mines) will make its opening offer to trade unions.
No new wage offer, strike ongoing in footwear industry
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EWN reports that the national strike in the footwear sector has entered its seventh day with no new wage offer on the table.
Eskom tables revised wage offer with two options, NUM to consult members
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ANA reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Tuesday evening that it was taking a new wage offer made by Eskom to its members.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 17 July 2018
- Details
In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Tuesday, 17 July 2018.
Numsa refers ArcelorMittal wage dispute to CCMA
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ANA reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has lodged a dispute with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) against ArcelorMittal SA (Amsa) after a deadlock was reached in wage talks.
Fort Hare University calls off exams due to noise of Nehawu protest
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Timeslive reports that the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape has had to cancel what it had hoped would be the last leg of its mid-year examinations as they have been disrupted by ongoing wage protests.
'My son died such a horrible death‚' mourns Palabora miner’s mother
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Timeslive reports that Limpopo police have released the names of the six mineworkers who were killed in an underground fire at the Palabora Mining Company in Phalaborwa over the weekend.
Manyi applies for liquidation of Afro Voice, journalists left to fight for packages
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Sowetan reports that Mzwanele Manyi, owner of Afro Voice newspaper (formerly The New Age), which shut its doors last month leaving workers in limbo, has applied for the company's liquidation.
Computer coding course for deaf job seekers
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Sowetan reports that Nqobile Majola is one of 19 deaf students completing a gruelling coding course that will allow them to secure work after battling to find jobs. The 26-year-old from Pietermaritzburg is one of the top students in their first-ever coding class.
Sactwu declares national wage dispute in clothing manufacturing sector
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The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union (Sactwu) has declared a national wage dispute in the clothing sector as, after three rounds of negotiations, the parties failed to reach a wage settlement.
Energy experts reckon Eskom wage rise might force job cuts
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Sowetan reports that according to energy experts, cash-strapped Eskom might have to shed jobs to afford the 7.5% salary increase offer it has tabled to its three unions, which were due on Tuesday to give feedback on the latest offer.
Municipal employers’ association Salga dodges deregistration
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ANA reports that the Department of Labour announced on Monday that the SA Local Government Association (Salga) had submitted the outstanding documents required to avoid deregistration.
Sactwu settles wage talks in General Goods and Handbags and in Tanning leather sectors
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The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union (Sactwu) has settled its wage negotiations for 2018 for the General Goods and Handbags and for the Tanning leather sectors, respectively.
Saftu’s working class summit this weekend to focus on jobs and poverty
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BusinessLive reports that ahead of the jobs summit promised by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) has decided to convene a similar forum, bringing together 75 civil society organisations.
Ramaphosa says after weekend tragedy that mine safety rules will be tightened up
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Reuters reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday that SA would tighten its mine safety regulations to hold mine operators accountable for accidental deaths in the industry.
Treat all kings the same, warns Cosatu in North West
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SowetanLive reports that labour federation in North West has called on the government to treat all traditional leaders equally when addressing land issues to avoid tribalism.
Phoenix teacher back in class after four years’ sick leave
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Sunday Tribune reports that a Phoenix teacher who was found guilty of falsifying a doctor’s certificate in 2015 and going on sick leave for 1,522 days was back in class on Monday.
SA mines relying heavily on unskilled workers despite Industry 4.0 gaining traction
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Mining Weekly reports that contrary to the expectation that it would move towards employing a higher number of skilled personnel to catalyse modernisation and mechanisation targets, the local mining industry has backtracked, employing a significant number of unskilled personnel instead.
MPs dismayed that mining deaths have reached crisis proportions
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ANA reports that the Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources, Mr Sahlulele Luzipo, and the Chairperson of the Select Committee on Land and Mineral Resources, Mr Olifile Sefako, said on Monday that mining deaths in SA have reached crisis proportions.
Maths and science graduates may have to teach in schools as part of community service
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The Citizen reports that Science and Technology Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has a plan to enlist taxpayer-funded graduates to do community service in schools.