Today's Labour News

newsThis 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.

Cosatu to challenge ‘polarising’ Covid-19 vaccine mandate policies

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cosatuBL Premium reports that Cosatu plans to challenge mandatory Covid-19 vaccination at a “national, policy level” and says it wants companies that have dismissed workers for non-compliance with such policies to reinstate them.

Government wants to create two million jobs for South Africans before elections in 2024 - by clamping down on foreigners

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nxesiBloomberg News reports that as SA grapples with one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi wants to add as many as two million new jobs before the next elections.

Tiger Brands extends life of Ashton canning factory for another season

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Tiger BrandsBusinessLive reports that Tiger Brands will be extending operations at its deciduous fruit business for another season as a number of parties have expressed an interest in further discussions on the possible acquisition of the business.

Renewed wage strike by PSA and Nehawu forces SARS to close 18 branches

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strike thumb medium85 85Fin24 reports that the SA Revenue Service (SARS) announced on Tuesday that its operations had been affected by industrial action on the part of two unions and that it had been forced to close 18 branches in seven provinces around the country.

Morning roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 13 July 2022

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news shutterstockIn our Wednesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.

Lotteries Commission serves COO Phillemon Letwaba with notice of intention to suspend him – for the third time

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NLCGroundUp reports that the new board of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) has served chief operating officer Phillemon Letwaba with notice of intention to suspend him.

'Heartbroken' domestic worker who was allegedly fired for being HIV-positive, 'treated like a dog with rabies'

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newsNews24 reports on a Cape Town domestic worker from Khayelitsha who was allegedly fired for disclosing her HIV-positive status. Now, Mavis Tambo, who said she was heartbroken and deeply offended, is imploring people to educate themselves about the virus.

Leather and tanning industry workers get 7.25% wage increase

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sactwuFin24 reports that for the second week in a row, the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (Sactwu) has secured a wage deal in a textile sub-sector, this time in the leather and tanning industry, with workers set to earn 7.25% more across the board.

Pretoria teacher cleared of racism allegation

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ELRCPretoria News reports that a Gauteng teacher who was accused of racism has won a case brought against her at the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC).

Old Mutual, Standard Bank have now fired a total of 89 people for refusing Covid-19 jab

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newsFin24 reports that Old Mutual has joined the list of companies that financial sector union Sasbo wants to take to the Labour Court for dismissing employees who refused to vaccinate against Covid-19.

Morning roundup of labour news on Tuesday, 12 July 2022

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news shutterstockIn our Tuesday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.

Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi opposes any plan to privatise Eskom

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nxesiBloomberg News reports that Employment & Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi says he will oppose any move to privatise Eskom as it struggles to generate power, avoid outages and repay its R396bn debt.

Nehawu and PSA to resume strike action at SARS amid tax collection season

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SARSBusinessLive reports that strike action by the Public Servants Association (PSA) and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) at the SA Revenue Service (SARS) is set to resume from Tuesday and could affect tax collection at the agency.

Ramaphosa expected within days to declare an energy emergency

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ramaphosa2BL Premium reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa is likely to announce an energy emergency as early as this week, as part of what he calls a “comprehensive set of actions” aimed at solving the country’s escalating power outages.

Standard Bank repeals mandatory Covid-19 vaccination policy with immediate effect

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standardbankBL Premium reports that Standard Bank has withdrawn its Covid-19 mandatory vaccination policy just days after finance union Sasbo vowed to challenge the lender’s dismissal of at least 40 of its members for not complying with the policy.

Very large shortfall in number of employers submitting returns to Compensation Fund

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southafricalogoIn a letter to the editor, Michael Bagraim MP, Democratic Alliance (DA) deputy shadow employment & labour minister, reports that in an answer to a question in parliament, the Department of Employment & Labour Minister (DEL) indicated that 520,860 employers should be contributing to the Compensation Fund.

Police commissioner says task team set up to investigate crimes at Eskom

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sapsTimesLive reports that the police have established a multidisciplinary task team to investigate crimes committed at state-owned power utility Eskom.

Former CNA staff still waiting for promised retrenchment payouts

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BL Premium reports that former staff at CNA who were retrenched in 2021 are still waiting to receive retrenchment payouts as part of the deal approved last November to sell the embattled stationer.

Wage negotiations kick off in vehicle assembly sector

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boardroomtableEngineering News reports that the Automotive Manufacturers Employers Association (AMEO) and the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) last week started wage negotiations in the vehicle assembly sector.

Eskom bosses De Ruyter, Oberholzer get zero salary increase

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earningsEngineering News reports that Eskom has confirmed that while workers below the senior management level at the entity will be getting a wage increase, its executives including group CEO Andre De Ruyter and chief operating officer Jan Oberholzer will not be getting any salary increase.

Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 8 July 2022

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newsIn our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.

Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 7 July 2022

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news shutterstockIn our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.

Mpumalanga teacher assistants struggling to put food on the table after not being paid for three months

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education blackboard thumb medium80 92News24 reports that teaching assistants in Mpumalanga say they are struggling to put food on the table and care for their families after not receiving their stipends for the past three months.

Court orders former Eskom boss Brian Molefe to pay back just under R10 million to pension fund

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gavel thumb100 Fin24 reports that Brian Molefe, the former CEO of Eskom, has been directed to pay back just under R10 million, plus interest, to the power utility's pension fund.

National Planning Commission calls for declaration of energy emergency

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Power lines1BL Premium reports that the National Planning Commission (NPC) has called for a wide-ranging intervention to alleviate SA’s long-standing energy crisis, including a declaration of an energy emergency.

Security guard killed, another injured as cable theft surge strangles coal supply to Majuba power station

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transnetlogo thumb100 Fin24 reports that Transnet has warned that a new spike in cable theft incidents has claimed the life of a security guard and has critically constrained coal supply to the Majuba Power Station by rail.

Court rules that Ramaphosa has case to answer on Marikana 'collusion', but not on murder of miners

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ramaphosa2News24 reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa will have to answer to accusations he unlawfully pressurised police top brass to take action against Marikana miners, but a judge has found there was no case to show he pushed for their murders.

Severe budget cuts forced Legal Aid SA to scrap over 100 posts

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legalaidsaCape Times reports that Legal Aid SA (LASA) has scrapped more than 100 posts from its establishment due to budget cuts in 2021-22 financial year.

Western Cape businesses warned to brace themselves for labour inspectorate inspections

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newsCape Argus reports that industries and businesses across the Western Cape have been warned to expect inspectors from the Department of Employment & Labour (DEL) to visit soon.

Eskom cautions that signing wage deal doesn't immediately end load shedding

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Power lines1EWN reports that Eskom on Tuesday advised the conclusion of a new wage deal with workers did not mean load shedding would immediately come to an end.