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.
NUM rails against Eskom's claims of average staff salary of R737,000
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News24Wire reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has disputed claims by Eskom in a statement that the average salary of an Eskom employee stood at R737,000 per annum.
Labour groups call for wider government support for Denel turnaround plan
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Engineering News reports that trade union Uasa and the Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa), to which Uasa is affiliated, have urged the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) to seek help from other government departments to find funds to save financially-embattled defence industrial group Denel.
January lockdown hit jobs across all age groups
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BL Premium reports that the number of employed people fell again at the start of 2021 as SA’s second wave of coronavirus infections and the associated lockdown shrunk job opportunities across all age groups.
Action, not words, needed to end attack on medics, says union
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Pretoria News reports that words with no action behind them will not put an end to the senseless attacks and killings of emergency medical services personnel, their union has said.
Government, unions launch campaign to encourage teachers to take Covid-19 vaccine jab
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TimesLIVE reports that Department of Basic Education (DBE) Minister Angie Motshekga, her deputy and teacher union leaders will be the faces of a public vaccination advocacy campaign encouraging educators to take the Covid-19 vaccine.
Limpopo education official denied top job for dodgy reason scores R650,000
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The Star reports that a Limpopo education official has scored R650,000 from the department after his application for a top post was binned for a dodgy reason.
Metrobus claims that ‘small unruly element’ preventing drivers from working
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The Star reports that Metrobus has accused the Democratic Municipal and Allied Workers Union of SA (Demawusa) of being greedy and destructive.
Amcu calls on President Ramaphosa to meet Marikana widows
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The Star reports that the Association of Mining and Construction Workers Union (Amcu) has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to meet the widows of the miners who died in 2012 in the Marikana massacre.
Independent mediators in public service wage talks ask for more time
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EWN reports that independent mediators in the public wage negotiations have asked for more time as government considers drawing up a renewed wage offer.
Court hears how employees' 'basic human rights' were allegedly violated at Johannesburg factory
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News24 reports that the South Gauteng High Court has heard allegations of how seven Chinese nationals, accused of human trafficking, treated employees at their Johannesburg factory.
State unlikely to freeze public-sector wages for three years, says Fitch Ratings
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BL Premium reports that as parties in the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) continue to look for mechanisms to break their wage deadlock, Fitch Ratings said on Tuesday the government was unlikely to meet its goal of freezing public-sector salaries for three years.
SAPS suspends VIP Protection Unit officer accused of triple murder
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News24 reports that the SAPS has suspended a Mthatha VIP Protection Unit member after he was arrested (IPID) for allegedly murdering three people over a land dispute last week.
SANParks CEO Fundisile Mketeni placed on special leave amid allegations of sexual assault
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News24 reports that the SA National Parks (SANParks) CEO, Fundisile Mketeni, has been placed on special leave following allegations of sexual assault.
Senior PIC staff member accuse managers of failing to renew GEPF mandate, causing a 'crisis'
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Fin24 reports that following a series of scandals over the past few years, senior employees at a unit of the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) have accused executives at the state-owned fund manager of causing an "existential crisis".
Domestic workers need more time for retrospective Compensation Fund claims for work injuries
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Cape Argus reports that according to unions for domestic workers and other civil society organisations, the deadline for domestic workers to apply retrospectively in respect of claims for injuries sustained at work was unreasonably short.
After union meeting with Eskom’s De Ruyter is postponed, NUM slams load reduction policy as ’racist'
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The Star reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has criticised certain of Eskom’s policies, describing the implementation of load reduction as “racist” and affecting African people.
SAA and pilots’ association to meet on Wednesday over pending payment disputes
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Moneyweb reports that SA Airways (SAA) management and the SAA Pilots’ Association (Saapa) are due to meet on Wednesday over pending payment disputes. This is according to Saapa chair Captain Grant Back.
Betting World picketed by workers demanding salaries, Covid-19 relief funds and leave pay
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GroundUp reports that Betting World workers picketed outside the company’s branch in Gqeberha on Friday morning, demanding salaries from April last year, Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) money and leave pay.
Joburg Metrobus workers continue industrial action over 18% pay raise
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The Citizen reports that following a picket at Gandhi Square in the Johannesburg central business district, Metrobus said on Monday that it was not in negotiations with the members of the Democratic Municipal and Allied Workers’ Union of SA (Demawusa).
City of Johannesburg cautions job seekers after three arrested for Pick-It-Up employment scam
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EWN reports that the City of Johannesburg has warned job seekers to be vigilant after three people were arrested for making R400,000 from a Pick-It-Up job scam.
Security guard who allegedly fled with company's millions loaded into his car boot to apply for bail
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News24 reports that a security guard, who allegedly stole and then fled with several millions of rands belonging to his employer, is expected to bring a formal bail application later this week.
Unfair appointment costs eThekwini Municipality millions in compensation to ‘sidelined’ candidates
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Sunday Tribune reports that the “sidelining” of better-qualified candidates for a top position has cost the eThekwini Municipality millions in compensation for those who should have been considered for the job.
Nearly 800 Western Cape cops probed over three years for abusing state vehicles and breaching road regulations
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TimesLIVE reports that over the past three years, 799 Western Cape police officers were investigated for breaching policies around the use of state vehicles. Their alleged transgressions ranged from drunken driving to using the vehicles for private use.
Ex-top cop, five others back in court in Marikana murder trial
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The Citizen reports that the trial against former North West deputy police commissioner Major-General William Mpembe and five others was scheduled to continue in the North West High Court on Monday.
Joburg Metrobus commuters urged to use alternative transport as strike continues on Monday
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EWN reports that commuters using Joburg Metrobus have been urged to continue finding alternative transport on Monday, with a strike at the company entering its sixth day.
Roundup on Monday, 10 May 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, 7 May 2021.
Former Transnet executive’s earnings do not add up, tribunal hears
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TimesLIVE reports that according to a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) senior forensic accountant, money deposited into the bank accounts of former Transnet Capital Projects executive Herbert Msagala were more than what he was said to have earned from his employment and other businesses.
Northriding teacher suspended for alleged racial slurs
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EWN reports that Gauteng Education Department MEC Panyaza Lesufi has welcomed the immediate suspension of a teacher at the Northriding Secondary School who has been accused of racism.
Covid pandemic killed a decade of employment growth in SA
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Mail & Guardian reports that one in every two jobs lost as a result of Covid-19’s economic onslaught was once held by an informal worker.
Escalating crimes against doctors and medical staff by criminals posing as patients 'a national crisis'
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TimesLIVE reports that doctors in private practice are under siege by criminals who pose as patients and clear out their bank accounts, steal their devices and take medication, including antiretrovirals and cough syrup.