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.
‘No jobs, no pay, no Ters’, domestic workers lament as they describe the pain of Covid-19 pandemic
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The Star reports that as Sa observes the first anniversary of the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, domestic workers are still bearing woeful scars of unemployment.
Public sector unions gear up for wage battle
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City Press reports that the commencement of the new round of wage talks between government and public-sector unions has been delayed since last year as a result of a court battle over government’s refusal to honour the last leg of the three-year wage agreement it signed with unions in 2018.
Some Luthuli House employees left in limbo as ANC struggles to pay February salaries
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EWN reports that the African National Congress (ANC) told some of its Luthuli House staff members that it did not know when money for their salaries would become available.
Civil servants shun Treasury’s offer of early retirement
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Sunday Independent reports that the National Treasury’s plan for public servants to take early retirement in order to reduce the state’s wage bill has failed to gain momentum, with few employees taking up the offer.
Mbalula slams claims that Prasa’s new CEO is ‘too old’ at 64 to take up post
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The Citizen reports that Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has slammed claims that the newly-appointed chief executive officer (CEO) of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa), Zolani Matthews, is too old for the position.
Ramaphosa marks International Women's Day with tribute and salute to women frontline workers
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News24 reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa marked International Women's Day on Monday by honouring the involvement of women in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic and their "pivotal role" in the struggle against the disease.
A third eThekwini bus driver shot dead in as many months
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Sunday Tribune reports that another Tansnat bus driver was shot dead in an apparent ambush on Friday morning, bringing the number of killings to three in as many months. All the drivers worked for Tansnat, the bus company contracted to the eThekwini metro.
Golden Arrow bus driver shot through the mouth in Khayelitsha on Friday
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Cape Argus reports that a Golden Arrow bus driver, 48, was struck by a bullet through the mouth while dropping off passengers in Khayelitsha on Friday.
Limpopo health workers’ strike called off as contentious staff circulars put on hold for two weeks
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Pretoria News reports that the contentious circulars over which health workers in Limpopo had threatened to down tools from Monday have been suspended, for two weeks.
Roundup on Monday, 8 March 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, 5 March 2021.
Parliament rubbishes EFF’s claims it will retrench 'thousands' of its employees
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News24 reports that Parliament has rubbished claims by the EFF that plans are afoot to retrench "thousands of workers" at the legislative arm of government.
Employment minister Thulas Nxesi says SA workers must get priority in national employment policy
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BL Premium reports that the government is proceeding with the formulation of a controversial policy to govern the employment of foreign workers, especially in low-skill jobs, to give priority to South Africans.
No funds for further Ters extensions beyond 15 March, says UIF
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BL Premium reports that acting Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) commissioner Marsha Bronkhorst stressed in parliament on Friday that the fund would be able to afford the R15.8bn extra cost of extending the Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) to mid-March, but not beyond that date.
Minister signs directives for extension of Ters benefits, online applications open for new claims covering periods since 15 October
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BusinessLive reports that the updated directives for the extension of the Temporary Employer/Employee Covid-19 Relief Scheme (Ters) have been signed, paving the way for the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to process new claims.
Kumba Iron Ore warns over 1,600 employees of potential job cuts
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BL Premium reports that trade union Solidarity said on Friday that Kumba Iron Ore had issued notices of potential retrenchment to 1,620 employees.
Over 80,000 health-care workers vaccinated as first batch of shots used up in two weeks
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TimesLIVE reports that SA has already used up its first batch of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Covid-19 vaccines, the health ministry indicated on Wednesday.
Gauteng MEC wants answers for Joburg municipal manager’s hasty departure
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The Star reports that Human Settlements, Urban Planning and CoGTA MEC Lebogang Maile is seeking answers from the City of Johannesburg following its separation with manager Dr Ndivhoniswani Lukhwareni.
Expanded Public Works Programme suffered massive ‘Covid contraction’ in nine months to December
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Moneyweb reports that in the nine months to the end of December, the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) had spent just R9.5 million of its R68.2 million allocated project budget (including professional fees) for 2020/21.
Fedhasa gets interdict to prevent extension of bargaining council agreement to non-members
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The Citizen reports that Fedhasa and the Restaurant Collective have been granted an urgent interdict to stop the extension to non-parties of the Bargaining Council for Fast Food, Restaurant, Catering and Allied Trades’ recently gazetted collective agreement.
Security guard is ninth person arrested for cash-in-transit heist in which two cops died in March last year
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TimesLIVE reports that a security officer working at the G4S depot in Mahikeng has become the ninth suspect arrested in connection with a cash-in-transit (CIT) heist that led to the killing of two police officers.
Putco puts the brakes on retrenchments of 214 employees after engagement with Numsa
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SowetanLive reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has welcomed the decision taken by bus company Putco to halt the retrenchment of more than 200 employees.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 3 March 2021
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In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Wednesday, 3 March 2021.
Sassa official in Mbombela court for allegedly using fake matric certificate to get job, pocketing salary of R4m over 14 years
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News24 reports that a SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) official in Mpumalanga has appeared in court for allegedly lying about her qualifications and in turn pocketing a salary of around R4 million over 14 years.
Limpopo study shows nurses to be the biggest culprits in abusing overtime
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SowetanLive reports that according to a study conducted by the Limpopo department of health, nurses have been singled out as the worst abusers of overtime and sick leave in the province.
Prasa makes a settlement offer in dispute with dismissed CFO
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Independent Media reports that the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) has made a settlement offer to its dismissed chief finance officer (CFO) Japhtalina Lesibana Fosu.
SAA pilots threaten legal action against rescue practitioners over ‘favouritism’ and alleged unfair labour practices
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Moneyweb reports that as SA Airways (SAA) prepares to exit its business rescue proceedings, the SAA Pilots’ Association (Saapa) has threatened to take legal action against the airline’s business rescue practitioners (BRPs) for alleged “favouritism” and unfair labour practices.
Health workers in Limpopo give notice of intention to down tools next week
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News24 Wire reports that seven health sector unions in Limpopo have served a joint notice of intention to strike over what they say is the unilateral change of working conditions of nurses and other healthcare workers.
First private sector Covid vaccine site for private sector healthcare workers opens in Western Cape
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TimesLIVE reports that SA’s first private sector vaccination site opened in the Western Cape on Tuesday as the province vaccinated its 13,415th person against Covid-19.
Labour court orders reinstatement of two senior Prasa executives and a manager, but appeal to be lodged
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TimesLIVE reports that the Labour Court on Tuesday set aside the Passenger Rail Agency of SA’s (Prasa's) termination of the employment contracts of two senior executives and a manager, who must be reinstated with immediate effect.
Police commissioner has ‘sleepless nights’ over crooked officers in his ranks
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TimesLIVE reports that national police commissioner Gen Khehla Sitole has admitted that corruption in the country’s police force gives him sleepless nights as it “tarnishes the image of the organisation”.