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.
Home Affairs wants to be classified as a ‘security department’ so that Saturday will become a regular work day without overtime pay
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TimesLive reports that the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) wants to be classified as a security department so it can open on Saturdays without having to pay overtime.
Stalling by medical scheme regulator ‘robbing millions from low-income households of private healthcare’
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BL Premium reports that up to 20-million South Africans from low-income households could afford basic private healthcare services if the medical schemes regulator stopped stalling on plans for cheap, pared- down benefit options, the annual Board of Healthcare Funders conference was told on Thursday.
Some 3,300 public sector teachers, representing 1% of the workforce, died from Covid-19 as at December 2021
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The Citizen reports that Department of Basic Education (DBE) Minister Angie Motshekga has revealed that as at 31 December 2021 the sector had lost 3,300 teachers in the public service to Covid-19.
Public sector unions could face backlash from members over their approval of NHI Bill, says researcher
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BL Premium reports that delegates to the annual Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF) conference heard on Thursday that public sector unions that have voiced support for the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill are poised for conflict with their members.
Prasa announces closure of three lines in Gauteng for rehabilitation work, acknowledges ‘huge’ disruption for commuters
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BusinessTech reports that the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) will suspend services of three lines in Gauteng for the rehabilitation and restoration of electrical cables and traction substations that were vandalised or stolen during the level 5 Covid lockdown.
Desperate Denel staff who haven’t been fully paid in two years, cancel health insurance, stop school fees in bid to make ends meet
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Fin24 reports that employees at struggling arms manufacturer Denel have been forced to cancel their private medical aid and are struggling to pay school fees, according to new court filings.
Morning roundup of labour news on Friday, 20 May 2022
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In our Friday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Two security guards responsible for guarding clinics in Mpumalanga arrested for stealing and selling medication
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News24 reports that two security guards who were responsible for guarding various clinics in the Gert Sibande District Municipality have been arrested for allegedly stealing and selling medication.
Minerals Council, which jointly administers Ubank with the NUM, backs Reserve Bank’s decision to place the institution under curatorship
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Engineering News reports that the Minerals Council SA (MCSA), which was previously known as the Chamber of Mines, says it supports the action taken by the SA Reserve Bank‘s (SARB’s) Prudential Authority to place Ubank under curatorship.
Mantashe warns strike-hit Sibanye-Stillwater it may lose its gold mining right
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BL Premium reports that in extraordinary remarks in parliament on Thursday, Department of Mineral Resources & Energy (DMRE) Minister Gwede Mantashe threatened Sibanye-Stillwater with the removal of its mining right because the company — in its 10th week of a bitter and prolonged strike in its gold division — is no longer engaged in gold-mining activities.
As motorists brace for another sharp petrol price increase in June, Outa urges government to extend fuel levy relief
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BusinessLive reports that as consumers brace for another sharp increase in the petrol price at the beginning of June, the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has called on Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to extend the R1.50/l reduction of the general fuel levy, which expires on 31 May.
In biggest increase since 2016, Reserve Bank raises repo rate to 4.75%, affirming its inflation targeting mandate
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BL Premium reports that following a three-day meeting and as predicted by economists, the SA Reserve Bank’s (SARB’s) monetary policy committee (MPC) on Thursday lifted the repo rate by 50 basis points.
Expert concerned that proposed 10-year term for directors-general might 'encourage complacency'
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News24 reports that the SA government is looking to increase the term lengths of directors-general (DGs) to 10 years, to improve stability and reduce political interference.
Gauteng transport MEC Jacob Mamabolo admits 85 key vacancies not filled in 2020/2021 despite full funding
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Pretoria News reports that Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Jacob Mamabolo has admitted that his department failed to fill 85 key positions despite the fact that all those positions were fully funded posts for the 2020/2021 financial year.
Shoprite Checkers launches new R8.9bn BEE employee share scheme
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Fin24 reports that the Shoprite Group is issuing R8.9 billion worth of Shoprite Checkers shares to its employees through a new black economic empowerment (BEE) trust, effectively increasing black ownership in the subsidiary to 19.2%.
After electricity overload trip, City of Tshwane staff held hostage by residents, forced to cut power to neighbouring suburb
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News24 reports that on Tuesday, City of Tshwane employees were held hostage in Mamelodi by a group of residents.
Godongwana says Ubank had enough time to devise ‘credible action plan’ before being placed under curatorship
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Fin24 reports that according to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, the lack of a "credible action plan" to resolve issues at Ubank, despite it being given enough time, and lack of alignment between its board and ownership trustees, accelerated the need for it to be placed under curatorship.
Solidarity warns that interest rate hike will impede economic growth
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Trade union Solidarity expressed its concern on Wednesday about the impact of higher fuel inflation and a consumer inflation rate that threatens to gravely impoverish the consumer.
NHI Bill gathers momentum in parliament, despite opposition parties giving it the thumbs down
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News24 reports that the Portfolio Committee on Health has voted to move forward with the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill, with ANC MPs using their majority by voting for the bill to be debated in Parliament.
Morning roundup of labour news on Thursday, 19 May 2022
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In our Thursday morning roundup, see
summaries of our selection of recent South African
labour-related reports.
Big 50-basis point interest rate hike widely expected from Reserve Bank on Thursday
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Moneyweb reports that SA’s consumer inflation rate held steady near the ceiling of the SA Reserve Bank’s target range on the eve of what is expected to be the biggest interest-rate hike in more than six years.
Sibanye-Stillwater could offer unions “a back door” to end ten-week gold strike, says CEO Neal Froneman
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Miningmx reports that Sibanye-Stillwater could provide unions with “a back door” in order to end the strike at the producer’s gold mines which will have run for 10 weeks on Thursday.
We won’t see as much death in the fifth wave due to vaccines working, UKZN expert predicts
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IOL reports that a University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) professor says vaccine efficiency and herd immunity are two key reasons there won’t be as many deaths in the fifth wave of Covid-19.
Consumer inflation in April hit 5.9% for third time in five months, with big hikes in fuel and food
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Fin24 reports that Statistics SA reported on Wednesday that annual consumer price inflation remained unchanged at 5.9% in April 2022.
Government to lay down criteria for SOE funding
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BL Premium reports that National Treasury plans to lay down criteria for government funding of state-entities in a bid to reduce their reliance on the fiscus.
NUM shocked at move by Reserve Bank to place Ubank under curatorship
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SowetanLive reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), one of Ubank's major shareholders, said it was shocked and surprised by the Reserve Bank’s move to put Ubank under curatorship.
Alleged human trafficker arrested after six undocumented workers found at Mpumalanga farm
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News24 reports that 40-year Edjuanida Teixeira appeared in the Bethal Magistrate's Court on Monday for alleged human trafficking and is to remain in custody until his bail application on 23 May.
Child labour an enemy of progress, Ramaphosa tells ILO conference
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The Citizen reports that according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, no country and economy can consider itself to be at the forefront of progress if its success and riches have been built on the backs of children.
Carletonville minibus taxi driver with full passenger load arrested for alleged drunk driving
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News24 reports that a minibus taxi driver was arrested on Monday in Carletonville, in the West Rand, for allegedly being under the influence of alcohol while transporting a full load of passengers.
Nehawu ready to go ahead with ‘full-blown’ wage strike at Sars from 25 May
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EWN reports that the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) on Tuesday said it was ready to go ahead with plans to go on a full-blown strike at the SA Revenue Services (Sars).