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.
Manufacturing a critical component in job creation, says Rob Davies
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ANA reports that Minister of Trade and Industry Dr Rob Davies said on Wednesday that manufacturing was a critical component of South African economic policy and was also important in creating and ensuring that there were jobs in the economy.
Judgment reserved in Molefe pension payback saga
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ANA reports that the High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday reserved judgment in the application brought by trade union Solidarity and the Democratic Alliance (DA) whereby they sought an order declaring former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe’s R30m pension payout unlawful and setting it aside.
City of Cape Town wants its plan to take over railway services expedited
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EWN reports that the City of Cape Town says plans for it to take over the rail network need to be expedited.
Remgro’s Johann Rupert asks investors for input on executive remuneration
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BusinessLive reports that Johann Rupert, chairman of investment behemoth Remgro, has called on shareholders to help find an appropriate structure for remunerating executives.
Junior doctors fear 2018 internship crisis
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The Mercury reports that KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is among the three provinces which have not filled all their allocated medical intern posts, driving anxious final year students to campaign on social media.
City of Joburg employee busted in connection with R28m revenue refunds scam
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TimesLive reports that a City of Johannesburg operational manager at the refunds unit of the revenue department was arrested on Wednesday by the Hawks in connection with a R28m revenue refunds scam.
Highveld Steel recoups nearly 700 of the 1,800 jobs it shed in February 2016
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Business Report writes that nearly 700 of the 1,800 jobs lost when the entire workforce of Evraz Highveld Steel and Vanadium was retrenched in February last year have been recouped.
Koko set to testify in his Eskom disciplinary hearing on Thursday after key witnesses fail to show
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Fin24 reports that suspended Eskom executive Matshela Koko will testify at his disciplinary hearing on Thursday, after key witnesses failed to show.
Numsa and United front to picket on Thursday at Eskom HO over 'apartheid wage gap' and other issues
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EWN reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) and the United Front will be picketing outside Eskom’s headquarters at Megawatt Park on Thursday over various issues involving the power utility.
EU court rules contract workers entitled to paid annual leave
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Reuters reports that the EU’s highest court ruled on Wednesday that employers must provide paid annual leave for employees in a case that could impact workers in the so-called "gig" economy (which includes short-term and freelance contracts rather than permanent jobs).
Paternity leave bill stipulates that father must be on birth certificate
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HuffPost reports that part of the conditions specified in the Labour Laws Amendment Bill, adopted by the National Assembly on Tuesday, is that a father cannot be approved for paternity leave unless his name is on the child's birth certificate.
Web links to selected labour news reports posted on Wednesday, 29 November 2017
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Our links page provides references to South African labour news reports we have come across on the Internet on Wednesday, 29 November 2017.
Lonmin to cut social and labour projects and freeze ‘non-critical recruitment’
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Reuters reports that platinum producer Lonmin plans to cut spending on social and labour projects and freeze "non-critical recruitment", part of an array of measures to save cash.
Taxi drivers talk health
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On Monday, the departments of health and transport signed a pledge with the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) to encourage taxi drivers to prioritise their own health and that of their passengers.
Nersa’s nod to Eskom on pricing package for Silicon Smelter plants will save jobs
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Business Report writes that the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) has approved Eskom’s application for a two-year incentive pricing package for Silicon Smelter’s plants in Polokwane and eMalahleni.
Minister Mokonyane's plan to throttle water is 'evil', says municipal union Samwu
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SowetanLive reports that the SA Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) has come out guns blazing against Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane’s threat to cut water supply to 30 municipalities‚ describing it an “evil” plan.
Empowerment scorecard for retirement funds left out of Financial Sector Code
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BusinessLive reports that the final version of the Financial Sector Code has been gazetted with a crucial omission, namely a mandatory scorecard for retirement funds that would have seen more black principal officers and trustees appointed.
Lonmin's future in balance as government probes SLP non-compliance allegations
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Fin24 reports that the future of platinum producer is in the balance as the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) probes allegations that it has violated its mining licence.
Surge in business professionals wanting to leave South Africa
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TimesLive reports that an annual survey of top SA executives and managers has revealed an "alarming" dip in confidence and outlook‚ with a record 78% of people surveyed indicating they would consider opportunities abroad.
Tension rises over Mineral Resources' relocation of managers out of ‘Gupta’ areas
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BusinessLive reports that the rift between the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) and three disgruntled regional managers, whom it wanted to shift to other provinces, has deepened.
DTI warns in new report that large-scale job creation not as simple as it seems
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Engineering News writes that the structure of the SA economy does not allow for the creation of large numbers of jobs, nor can it support a large number of new jobs at appropriate skills levels, the ‘State of Manufacturing 2017’ report has indicated.
SARS wants court to rule on R3m executive bonus dispute
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Fin24 reports that the SA Revenue Service (SARS) is in the process of seeking a declaratory order from the North Gauteng High Court on whether bonuses of R3m awarded to members of the executive committee (Exco) in August 2016 should be regarded as irregular expenditure or not.
Hope for injured and ill workers as Compensation Fund gets its act together
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GroundUp reports that attempts to fix the bottleneck of claims to the Department of Labour’s Compensation Fund are finally showing results.
Eskom chairman defends integrity of Matshela Koko’s disciplinary hearing
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BusinessLive reports that power utility Eskom has noted with "great concern" reports that suspended group executive Matshela Koko’s disciplinary hearing has collapsed.
First ever private member's bill passed in Parliament provides paternity leave for fathers
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History was made in Parliament on Tuesday when a private member's bill was passed for the first time in the National Assembly. The Labour Laws Amendment Bill, proposed by ACDP MP Cheryllyn Dudley, aims to give fathers the opportunity to take paternity leave.
Solidarity’s court case over Molefe’s pension fiasco to be heard from Wednesday
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Fin24 reports that a court will hear why the circumstances surrounding former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe’s early retirement pension pay-out and his subsequent reappointment as Eskom CEO, to remedy the situation, was unlawful.
PSA threatens court action against Gigaba to secure better labour representation on PIC board
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Fin24 reports that Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba might face court action from the Public Servants Association (PSA) if he does not agree to the union’s demands to have better representation on the board of the Public Investment Corporation (PIC).
Boland farmworkers tell of 'hunger for clean water'
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Cape Argus reports that, while the bulk of Capetonians are making efforts to save water, some farmworkers in the Boland region have a “hunger for clean water”. This is just one of the issues that came out of the fourth Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers’ Union (CSAAWU) congress.
Transport union Satawu supports Ramaphosa’s bid for ANC presidency
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The Citizen reports that the SA Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) has official announced its support for Cyril Ramaphosa to become African National Congress (ANC) president at the party’s elective national conference in December.
Scene set for acrimonious public sector wage negotiations
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Business Report writes that the scene is set for acrimonious public sector wage negotiations after the public service unions at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) said on Moday that they were readying themselves for a bitter fight with the government.