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.
Minister of Women calls for more women in mining
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Business Report writes that Minister of Women in the Presidency, Susan Shabangu, last week urged the mining industry to do more to integrate women in mining, saying, while the representation of women had improved over the years, it was not enough.
Pikitup’s strike in March & April cost Joburg an extra R135m in five weeks
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The Star reports that Johannesburg ratepayers forked out R135 million in five weeks to keep waste and refuse collection company Pikitup running during a protracted violent strike last year.
Atlatsa reports fatality at its Bokoni platinum mine
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Mining Weekly reports that dual-listed Atlatsa Resources has been issued with a Section 54 (i.e. safety stoppage) notice after a fatality at its Bokoni platinum mine’s Middelpunt Hill shaft section.
Hunter charged after killing farmworker he mistook for a warthog
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TMG Digital/SowetanLIVE report that a hunter has been charged with murder after he allegedly mistook a farm worker in Limpopo for a warthog and killed him at the weekend.
Tshwane firefighting service ‘in crisis’ due to poor administration, low morale
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The Citizen reports that firefighters contracted by the Tshwane Emergency Services (TES) across the capital have made allegations of maladministration in the department.
Public Protector probes SA Council for Educators
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City Press reports that the Public Protector (PP), Busisiwe Mkhwebane, has launched an investigation into the SA Council for Educators (Sace), which is the professional body for teachers.
Implats probes scuffle at mine between Amcu shop stewards and members
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ANA reports that a full investigation into a physical confrontation between some union members and shop stewards at Impala Platinum’s (Implats’) 20 shaft in Rustenburg is under way.
Agri SA says national minimum wage announcement brings certainty for agriculture
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TMG Digital reports that Agri SA said on Friday that the announcement last week regarding the introduction of a national minimum wage (NMW) brought certainty for agriculture about remuneration levels that will be payable in the next year.
Soldier who went missing while swimming in sea to be declared dead
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The Citizen reports that the defence force chief General Solly Shoke has begun legal steps to have a soldier who presumably drowned while swimming in the sea at Port Shepstone three years ago declared dead.
Debate over whether EPWP should fall under national minimum wage deal
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Sunday Independent reports that the government might have to fork out an extra R10-billion if the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) decides that temporary workers employed under the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) should be paid the national minimum wage (NMW).
Numsa declares wage dispute in road passenger sector
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ANA reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) on Friday formally declared a dispute at the SA Road Passenger Bargaining Council (SARPBC) after wage negotiations with employers broke down.
Freight staff fired following illegal strike over claim of religious discrimination
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News24 reports that a dispute over claims of religious discrimination between a group of employees and management at a road freight company has had a bitter ending.
Schalk Burger tells underpaid farmworkers: I’ll pay you as I see fit
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Daily Voice reports that Schalk Burger Snr, father of Springbok rugby player Schalk Burger, has lashed out at his farmworkers after he was exposed for allegedly underpaying them.
Kumba takes Dingleton residents to court over disruption to asbestos rehabilitation
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GroundUp reports that Kumba Iron Ore is demanding more than R1.6 million from a group of residents of the Northern Cape town of Dingleton after a battle over asbestos.
Economy growing, but not enough to create jobs, says Zuma
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Fin24 reports that when delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, President Jacob Zuma said the South African economic outlook for 2017 was improving, with an expected 1.3% growth rate in the coming year.
Controversy over likely effect of national minimum wage on employment
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The Star reports that Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement this week on an approved national minimum wage (NMW) has sparked a debate about the effects it could have on employment levels.
Without modernisation, gold mining sector could shed 200,000 jobs by 2025
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Moneyweb reports that according Neal Froneman, vice president of the Chamber of Mines (COM), without adequate innovation, research and development, the SA mining industry could see job losses of as many as 200,000 by 2025.
Head of Gauteng health department suspended following damming ombudsman’s report
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ANA reports that the head of the Gauteng Department of Health has been suspended in the wake of recommendations by the health ombudsman Malegapuru Makgoba relating to the deaths of 94 psychiatric patients at non-government organisations.
Gauteng exam markers to get their payments within five working days
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ANA reports that the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) said on Thursday that all exam markers would be paid.
Teacher shortage in KZN chronic, says Sadtu
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TimesLive reports that more than 2‚800 classes and subjects are without teachers in schools across KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) - including critical subjects like maths‚ physical science and accounting.
Cape buffalo injures CEO of Amplats
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Bloomberg reports that the chief executive officer of Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), the world’s biggest platinum producer, was injured by a buffalo while on holiday in December.
Zuma lauds Ramaphosa over national minimum wage deal
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Fin24 reports that President Jacob Zuma congratulated his deputy Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday night during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) for successfully overseeing the conclusion of a national minimum wage (NMW) deal.
Minimum wage of R20 per hour is an insult to workers, says Numsa
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Fin24 reports that according to the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), implementing a deal to pay workers a minimum hourly rate of R20 would be the final nail in the coffin for the workers’ struggle in SA.
Scores of Cape Town paramedics suffering from PTSD
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Cape Argus reports that health officials in the Western Cape say attacks on paramedics have led to an increase in the exodus of health-care workers too afraid to work in “violent Cape Town”.
Exemptions for up to 12 months for firms unable to afford national minimum wage
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BusinessLive reports that mitigating measures are planned to assist businesses that cannot afford the R20 per hour national minimum wage (NMW) when it comes into force no later than 1 May 2018.
Deloitte brought in to help with ill health and absenteeism at Implats’ Rustenburg ops
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Bloomberg reports that platinum producer Impala Platinum (Implats) has hired Deloitte & Touche to help improve performance at its troubled Rustenburg mines.
‘It’s not a living wage, but it will lift the incomes of at least 6.6 million workers’
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ANA reports that Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday that the national minimum wage (NMW) of R20 per hour, to be implemented by at least 1 May 1 next year, was not a living wage, but a step towards income equality in SA.
Save SA’s Pityana lambasted by Cosatu for ‘phony outrage’ against Zuma
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TMG Digital reports that Save South Africa convenor Sipho Pityana has come under attack by Cosatu for what the trade union federation called his “phony outrage” against President Jacob Zuma.
SA Nursing Council threatens to sue Denosa over ‘malicious and callous’ statement
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The New Age reports that the SA Nursing Council (SANC) has threatened to take legal action against the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) for what it calls a malicious and callous statement made by the trade union.
Nehawu rejects Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as next ANC leader
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The Citizen reports that the Cosatu-affiliated National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has warned against electing former African Union Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as the next ANC leader.