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.
Three former West Rand municipal executives allegedly involved in VBS Bank scandal granted R50,000 bail each
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News24 reports that three former West Rand district municipality executives allegedly linked to the VBS Mutual Bank scandal have been granted R50,000 bail each.
Morning roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 29 June 2021
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In our early morning roundup, see summaries
of our selection of recent South African labour-
labour-related reports.
Domestic workers hit by Covid-19 blues
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Cape Argus reports that Sweep South revealed on Sunday how domestic workers have felt the wrath of the Covid-19 pandemic – with depression being a common diagnosis.
As lockdown level 4 brings winter holidays forward, schools to reopen on 19 July
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Independent Media reports that Department of Basic Education (DBE) Minister Angie Motshekga has advised that private and public schools will close on Wednesday, with 19 July marked as the new return date for learners.
Sibanye-Stillwater inoculates an initial 779 employees at its SA operations, offers wider assistance
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Mining Weekly reports that Sibanye-Stillwater has inoculated an initial 779 employees with the Covid-19 vaccine in line with the government’s roll-out strategy in SA.
With no Ters and no support, ‘restaurants will be destroyed', while deliveries won't save us, industry warns
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Fin24 reports when President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday that SA would move to more stringent level 4 lockdown regulations, he indicated that until 11 July restaurants and other eateries would only be permitted to sell food for takeaway or delivery.
SAA Technical staff get to go home with full pay, but Mango employees aren’t that lucky
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Fin24 reports that employees of low-cost state-owned airline Mango did not get salary payments for June – but fellow SA Airways (SAA) subsidiary SAA Technical (SAAT) did manage to pay full salaries for the month.
Mineworker killed in fall-of-ground at Impala Platinum’s 16 Shaft
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Mining Weekly reports that according to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), a mineworker was killed in a fall-of-ground incident at Impala Platinum’s Impala Rustenburg 16 shaft on 25 June.
Liquor industry bodies mulling legal action against government’s fourth ban on liquor sales
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News24 reports that foretelling job losses and the demise of small businesses, liquor industry bodies are considering legal action against the government’s decision to ban alcohol sales for the fourth time since SA’s Covid-19 lockdown began nearly 15 months ago.
Two security guards dismissed for assaulting patient at Escourt Hospital in KZN
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The Citizen reports that two security guards caught on video assaulting an elderly patient at Escourt Hospital in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) have been dismissed by the provincial department of health.
SA businessman Mthunzi Mdwaba in the race for ILO director-general post
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BL Premium reports that a SA businessman, who has served the International Labour Organization (ILO) in senior positions for more than a decade, says improving the organisation’s governance and oversight capabilities is in the offing should he be elected as the first African to lead the body since its inception more than a century ago.
Hawks arrest three former senior managers employed at Gauteng municipalities over VBS Bank billions
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TimesLIVE reports that three former municipal executives in Gauteng are expected to appear in court on Tuesday following their arrests in regard to the VBS Mutual Bank (VBS) scandal.
Mounting calls for government to reopen UIF’s Covid-19 Ters scheme
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The Citizen reports that there are mounting calls for the government to reopen the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s (UIF’s) Covid-19 Temporary Employer-Employee Relief (Ters) scheme for businesses and workers that won’t be able to operate over the next 14 days.
Roundup on Monday, 28 June 2021 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, 25 June 2021.
Delays in Eastern Cape with teacher vaccinations as SGB and private school teachers left behind
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News24 reports that the Eastern Cape vaccination programme, focusing on employees in the education sector, has been hit by delays that have seen more than 7,000 non-government employees including teachers being left behind.
SA companies resort to importing critical skills as local pool can’t plug hole
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City Press reports that about 97% of listed and multinational companies in SA say engineers are indispensable to their business operations and often have to be recruited abroad.
At least 185,000 teachers and other education staff vaccinated to date
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News24 reports that at least 185,000 teachers and other education staff have been vaccinated, with 30,000 jabbed in Limpopo on Friday and Saturday.
Knysna security guard killed during armed robbery at supermarket
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Algoa FM reports that a security guard was killed during an armed robbery in Knysna at the weekend. Police spokesperson Colonel Brenda Muridili reported that the incident happened in the town's center on Saturday morning.
SA mining industry steps up its Covid-19 vaccination rollout
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BL Premium reports that as the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic sweeps across SA, a third of SA’s mining industry medical sites are registered to administer vaccines.
White males still rule roost in workplace, employment equity report shows
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BL Premium reports that according to Department of Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi, drastic action is needed to ensure the transformation of the workplace as white males still occupy top and senior management positions.
Ramaphosa moves SA to level 4 lockdown as Covid-19 infections surge
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BusinessLive reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday night announced tightening of Covid-19 restrictions for 14 days from Monday as current containment measures were not sufficient to prevent a rise in infections.
NUM to consider interdicting Eskom’s implementation of 1.5% wage offer
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BL Premium reports that according to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), Eskom’s unilateral decision to implement a 1.5% wage increase for non-managerial employees at the power utility was premature and unlawful.
Mango fails to pay June staff salaries on time, hopes money will be available before month-end
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Saturday Citizen reports that low-cost airline Mango did not pay staff salaries on Friday, which was the designated payday for the month of June.
Ignoring union demands, Eskom to increase salaries by 1.5% from 1 July
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Reuters reports that power utility Eskom indicated on Friday that it would be implementing a 1.5% salary increase from 1 July and adjust some employee benefits, thereby defying union demands for a far larger hike and their opposition to the adjustments.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 25 June 2021
- Details
In our early morning roundup, see summaries
of our selection of recent South African labour-
labour-related reports.
Gauteng Covid-19 pandemic hurtles towards worst-case scenario
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BL Premium reports that the catastrophic Covid-19 situation in Gauteng, which has resulted in a shortage of hospital beds, oxygen and ventilators, is on track to reach the worst-case scenario, creating a dilemma for a provincial government that wants to avoid closing down the economy.
No consequences yet for public works officials implicated in Beitbridge border fence saga
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TimesLIVE reports that no officials from public works and infrastructure have suffered any consequences yet for their roles in alleged wrongdoing in the procurement of the controversial R37m Beitbridge border fence.
EFF to take to streets of Tshwane on Friday to demand approval of Sputnick V and Coronavac Covid-19 vaccines
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Independent Media reports that the EFF will take to the streets in Pretoria on Friday over Covid-19 vaccines. The political party will be marching to the offices of the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra).
Survey shows NPO workers running on empty as Covid-19 batters their mental health
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SowetanLive reports that while non-profit organisations (NPOs) have been working tirelessly during the Covid-19 pandemic to provide support, emergency relief and life-saving resources to struggling South Africans, the mental health of their workers has taken a battering.
Santaco says taxis will continue loading to full capacity despite third Covid-19 wave
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The Star reports that the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) says despite most provinces entering the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the industry would continue loading full capacity in its taxis.