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.
‘Youth unemployment in SA is a national crisis’
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Fin24 reports that, as pointed out by Stanlib chief economist Kevin Lings, SA’s labour market failed to gain any meaningful traction over the past year, with the unemployment rate, especially for the youth, remaining exceedingly high by global standards.
Epping fire destroys furniture factory, no injuries reported
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IOL News reports that a fire broke out, reportedly at a furniture factory, in Epping Industria on Tuesday morning. The cause of the fire is as yet unknown and no injuries have been reported.
Rea Vaya and some Metrobus services in Joburg halted as protests break out
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TimesLive reports that bus services in some parts of Johannesburg have been halted because of community-led protests that broke out in the early hours of Tuesday ahead of the motion of no confidence vote in Parliament.
Sanef asks court to find BLF in contempt over intimidation of journalists
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eNCA reports that the SA National Editors' Forum (Sanef) will present arguments in the High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday as to why the Black First Land First (BLF) group and its leader Andile Mngxitama should be found in contempt of court.
Shortage keeps over 5,000 poorly qualified teachers in place
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BusinessLive reports that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) is stuck with more than 5,000 underqualified or unqualified teachers it cannot eliminate because of a tremendous shortage of teachers.
Medical schemes and health providers affected by dip in formal sector jobs
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BusinessLive reports that, with fewer employed workers contributing to medical schemes, the schemes’ poor performance has put pressure on payments made to providers such as Life Healthcare.
Labour Court orders that four SAA executives be investigated for misconduct
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Fin24 reports that the Labour Court has ordered that investigations currently being conducted at South African Airways (SAA) be broadened to look into the conduct of four officials.
Web links to selected labour news reports posted on 7 August 2017
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Our links page provides references to South African labour news reports we have come across on the Internet on Monday, 7 August 2017.
Suitors line up to buy AngloGold’s Kopanang mine
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City Press reports that AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) has at least three parties interested in buying its Kopanang mine near Klerksdorp in North West, which is one of two operations the gold producer plans to shut down.
Sibanye Gold job losses could total 10,200, says Solidarity
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Fin24 reports that trade union Solidarity has joined the chorus of those expressing shock and disappointed at the jobs bloodbath expected in the mining industry. Sibanye Gold announced a restructuring plan on Thursday that could see about 7,400 jobs being cut at all levels as a result of a proposed restructuring at the producer’s Beatrix West and Cooke operations.
Joburg taxi driver suffered severe chemical burns during assault
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ANA reports that a private company taxi driver sustained serious chemical burns when he was assaulted in Johannesburg during the early hours of Sunday morning.
Unemployment in second quarter of 2017 stuck at 14-year high of 27.7%
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Reuters reports that SA’s unemployment rate stayed at a 14-year high in the second quarter of 2017, with Statistics SA saying on Monday the country was in a “precarious position” of not creating enough jobs to make a dent in poverty.
FairPlay summit addresses plight of retrenched chicken industry workers
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Engineering News reports that nonprofit development organisations and the private sector met last week to discuss the plight of thousands of chicken industry workers who have been rendered jobless as a result of dumped chicken imports.
Energy Minister suspends Deputy Director-General over ‘compliance’ issues
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Moneyweb reports that energy minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has confirmed that the deputy director-general for the Department of Energy, Ompi Aphane, has been suspended.
Business accused by Cosatu of dragging its heels on national minimum wage
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BusinessLive reports that labour federation Cosatu has accused business of dragging its heels on the finalisation of arrangements for the implementation of the national minimum wage (NMW). It claims that issues that had already been agreed to were now stalling talks.
NUM stages march to try to halt job cuts at AngloGold Ashanti
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Business Report writes that members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Saturday marched to AngloGold Ashanti’s (AGA’s) head office in Johannesburg in protest against the producer’s move to retrench some 8,500 workers.
Cosatu and SACP defend their ‘in principle’ opposition to no-confidence Zuma vote
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BusinessLive reports that ANC alliance partners Cosatu and the SA Communist party (SACP) hit back at critics at the weekend, saying they did not support Tuesday’s no-confidence motion against President Jacob Zuma "in principle" but would continue to call for his resignation.
As Zwane blunders over moratorium, mining bleeds jobs
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Business Report writes that Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane suffered another setback when he was forced last week to backtrack on his plan to implement a moratorium on the processing of any new applications for prospecting and mining rights.
SAA pilots set to rebel over Gigaba’s plan to rationalise their incentive scheme
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Business Report writes that Finance Minister Malusi on Friday told legislators there was a need to revisit what SA Airways (SAA) pilots get paid as a cost-saving measure, while also tacking transformation and gender progression in the industry.
African Bank cuts over 600 jobs to save R50m a year
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City Press reports that African Bank has reduced its staff complement by 636 full-time employees through a restructuring programme that commenced in May.
Saftu calls on SA to join anti-Zuma marches on Monday
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ANA reports that the SA Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) has called on all its members, workers, and every South African “disgusted by the current pillaging of the resources linked to President Jacob Zuma and his cronies linked to his administration”, to join the civil society-led protest marches in Cape Town and around the country on Monday.
Web links to selected labour news reports posted from 4 August to 6 August 2017
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Our links page provides references to South African labour news reports we have come across on the Internet from Friday, 4 August to Sunday, 6 August 2017.
Sibanye restructure takes mining sector jobs hit to 21,000 in 14 days
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Miningmx writes that more misery was heaped on SA’s precious metals industries after Sibanye Gold announced on Thursday that it would be restructuring its Cooke and Beatrix West operations, potentially affecting 7,500 workers or roughly 13% of its workforce.
Land Bank helps create 15,000 jobs in agricultural sector in year to March
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Business Report writes that the Land and Agricultural Development Bank of SA created 15,000 jobs in the agricultural sector in the year to March by providing finance for emerging farmers, the state-owned lender said on Thursday.
Correctional Services warns public of learnership scam
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The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) says it has noted with grave concern the propagation of fake appointment letters for learnership opportunities issued by fraudsters.
Judge tears a strip off mines minister Zwane for 'Trump'-style Twitter stunt
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BusinessLive reports that in a brutal judgment, Judge Ramarumo Monama tore strips off Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) Minister Mosebenzi Zwane in his treatment of the court in the urgent interdict brought by the Chamber of Mines (COM) to stop a proposed moratorium of mineral and prospecting rights and transfers.
Train guard assaulted by non-paying commuters at station in Paarl
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Cape Times reports that a protection officer of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) was assaulted on Wednesday while trying to stop non-paying commuters during rush-hour at the Mbekweni station in Paarl.
OR Tambo airport monitoring go-slow by SAA technical crew
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EWN reports that on Friday morning officials at OR Tambo International Airport were closely monitoring a go-slow by technical crew at South Africa Airways (SAA). The workers involved are affiliated to the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa).
'Business as usual at 10111' despite strike say police brass
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TimesLive reports that as operators at the emergency 10111 call centre embark on a second wave of strike action‚ the top brass of the SA Police Service (SAPS) maintain that calls for help will not go unanswered.
NUM lashes out at jobs 'blackmail' of mining firms
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Fin24 reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Thursday that it was deeply worried about the possible retrenchments of thousands of workers at Sibanye Gold's operations in SA.