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.
Tourism Equity Fund suspended as Minister agrees to talks with Solidarity, AfriForum
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Engineering News reports that trade union Solidarity and civil rights organisation AfriForum have welcomed the decision by Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane to suspend the Tourism Equity Fund’s (TEF's) activities until discussions have taken place with the organisations.
Setback for SA’s rollout of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine
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BL Premium reports that the SA government is scrambling to reorient its Covid-19 vaccination plans after new evidence emerged on Sunday that AstraZeneca’s vaccine does not protect people against mild to moderate disease caused by the new variant detected in SA late last year.
Roundup on Monday, 8 February 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, 5 February 2021.
'Fake' advocate handed 10-year sentence in Bloemfontein court
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News24 reports that a ‘fake’ Free State advocate has been convicted of fraud for impersonating a defence attorney.
Communications Minister fails to stop SABC cutting 303 jobs
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Mail & Guardian reports that the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) will continue with the retrenchment of 303 workers, despite interventions from Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Stella Ndabeni- Abrahams.
Mineral Resources commemorates five years since collapse of Lily Mine and loss of three lives
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Mining Weekly reports that on the fifth anniversary of the Lily Mine collapse, the Department of Minerals Resources and Energy (DMRE) conveyed its sadness at the loss of three miners.
Public servants get Gems subsidy increase, but say it’s cold comfort amid salary dispute
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BL Premium reports that the Public Servants Association (PSA) says an increase in the subsidy for medical scheme contributions for state employee is cold comfort amid a battle between the government and public servants over salary increases.
Over 200 employees axed as Putco becomes the latest casualty of Covid-19 restrictions
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BL Premium reports that bus operator Putco has retrenched more than 200 employees after its operations were hit by the Covid-19 restrictions. The restrictions resulted in fewer passengers while the costs of disinfecting buses and buying staff personal protective equipment mounted.
Communications minister Ndabeni-Abrahams denies she made offer to hire retrenched SABC staffers
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BusinessLive reports that according to the communications ministry, the board of the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) misinterpreted an alternative job cuts proposal from Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams in respect of the public broadcaster.
Greyhound closure could see up to 700 job losses, unions warn
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Moneyweb reports that unions warned on Wednesday that up to 700 jobs were on the line from the planned closure of popular inter-city bus service Greyhound.
Fired Unisa manager got salary and performance bonus while sitting at home, as well as a backdated R50,000 pay increase
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SowetanLive reports that a former facilities executive director at the University of SA (Unisa) was paid his full salary while sitting at home for six months after he was fired and he even scored an impressive performance bonus of R128,500 in December.
Closure of Greyhound and Citiliner could spell the end of the road for the long-distance bus sector
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News24 Wire writes that it’s hard to picture a festive season or payday weekend without Greyhound buses on the road, as blue-collar workers head home – but this is a reality many will soon face.
Harmony employee killed in fall-of-ground accident at Target mine
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Mining Weekly reports that gold producer Harmony Gold Mining announced that an employee at its Target mine, in Welkom, died following a seismic event that triggered a fall of ground on 3 February.
Overworked doctors at Upington hospital stage protest for more staff
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TimesLIVE reports that disgruntled doctors at Dr Harry Surtie Hospital in Upington, in the Northern Cape, held a protest during their lunch hour on Wednesday to draw attention to a lack of staff and overtime hours that they claimed were leading to burnout.
Survey underway to gauge how healthcare workers feel about Covid-19 vaccines
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TimesLIVE reports that the national Department of Health (DOH) is conducting a survey among healthcare workers to gauge how they feel about the Covid-19 vaccine.
Protesters demanding jobs disrupt production at Foskor’s Limpopo mine
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TimesLIVE reports that production at Foskor's mine in Phalaborwa, Limpopo, came to a halt on Wednesday as community members protested outside.
Covax to deliver major vaccine boost for 1.25-million healthcare workers
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BL Premium reports that the government’s plans to vaccinate healthcare workers against the coronavirus received a major boost on Wednesday, with news that it will receive 3.1-million doses of Covid-19 vaccines from Covax.
Sanral employee killed, eight emergency responders injured after truck crashed through Free State accident scene
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News24 reports that one person was killed and eight emergency responders were injured on Tuesday when a truck crashed into their vehicles while they were tending to an earlier car accident scene.
SABC backs proposal for government to hire the broadcaster’s retrenched workers
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BL Premium reports that the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), which is at loggerheads with communications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams over planned retrenchments, says it supports government plans to consider taking on some of its employees who are set to be laid-off in its cost-cutting drive.
Northern Cape teacher gets six years, with two suspended, for sexually assaulting pupil in classroom
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News24 reports that a Northern Cape teacher has been sentenced to six years in prison for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old pupil inside a classroom.
Cosatu demands details of Golden Arrow’s safety plan following spike in muggings on buses in Cape Town
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News24 reports that trade union federation Cosatu has once again taken on Golden Arrow bus service over safety concerns.
Six weeks on, Suncoast Casino employees are still protesting over 13th cheques and pension fund contributions
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Daily News reports that Suncoast Casino employees downed tools six weeks ago, saying they would continue with their action until their employer responded to their concerns.
Eastern Cape Health ends contracts of over 600 intern nurses, even while its hospitals remain understaffed
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The Star reports that more than 600 nurses in the Eastern Cape have allegedly been left jobless despite the crippling effects of Covid19 on healthcare facilities in the province.
Government gives indication that SAA could exit business rescue by end of February
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Reuters reports that the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) indicated on Wednesday that South African Airways (SAA) might exit business rescue at the end of February and a decision on an equity partner for the carrier could be made by the end of March.
Jobs for Nelson Mandela Bay as four new companies invest R49m at Coega IDZ
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TimesLIVE reports that as SA bleeds jobs, four new companies are investing a combined R49m at the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) in Nelson Mandela Bay and creating employment for at least 100 people.
On first day, over 34,000 SA healthcare workers registered for Covid-19 vaccines
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TimesLIVE reports that the national Department of Health announced on Wednesday that its electronic vaccine self-registration portal was up and running, with more than 34,000 healthcare workers having already registered for the Covid-19 vaccine.
Chairperson of policing union booted out of police service for beating fellow officer, public disturbance
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TimesLIVE reports that SA Policing Union (Sapu) chair Mpho Kwinika has been given the boot from the SA Police Service (Saps). It was announced on Tuesday that Kwinika had been fired after a disciplinary hearing found him guilty of serious misconduct.
Hospitality industry to seek court interdict to stop extension of bargaining council collective agreement to nonparties
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BL Premium reports that a number of employers in the hospitality industry are preparing an application for an urgent court interdict to stop the government extending a collective agreement struck at the industry’s bargaining council to nonparties.
SABC defies communications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams on job cuts
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BL Premium reports that the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has defied communications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams’s attempts to reduce or possibly avert job cuts at the public broadcaster.
UIF launches online E-Compliance Certificate system
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Engineering News reports that the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has launched its highly anticipated online E-Compliance Certificate system.