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.
Construction Industry Development Board acts on conviction that creation of construction jobs is at centre of economic recovery
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Engineering News reports that in a sector hit hard by job losses and a general lack of work, initiatives in the construction industry designed to support the growth, and survival, of emerging contractors, should attract greater public attention and draw the support from established companies in the construction industry.
FairPlay teams up with trade unions to launch ‘buy local chicken’ campaign with aim of creating jobs
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Engineering News reports that nonprofit trade movement FairPlay, together with Proudly South African and trade unions, have launched a campaign to promote the consumption of local chicken.
Unprecedented clamour by shareholders at Woolies AGM against Moir’s exit package
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Moneyweb reports that in what was largely seen as a protest against a generous exit package granted to former Woolworths CEO Ian Moir, an unprecedented 82.24% of shareholders voted against the group’s remuneration implementation report at the annual general meeting (AGM) on Wednesday.
Consumer inflation quickens on food costs in October to seven-month high of 3.3%
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Bloomberg reports that SA’s consumer inflation unexpectedly accelerated in October to the highest rate in seven months, driven by food, non-alcoholic beverages, housing and utilities.
President Ramaphosa assembles ministerial team to look into torching of trucks on freeways
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BL Premium reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa has assembled a team of ministers to look into the torching of trucks, which has cost the economy R2bn.
Senwes accused by Solidarity of undermining wage negotiations at grain industry bargaining council
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Trade union Solidarity has “strongly condemned” the actions of Senwes during negotiations between trade unions and several employers who form part of the Bargaining Council for the Grain Industry.
Calls for Diwali to be declared a public holiday
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The Citizen reports that Hindu groups are calling for the most important national festival for the religion, Deepavali or Diwali, to be considered for inclusion on the SA calendar as a public holiday in terms of the Public Holidays Act of 1994.
Protests disrupt, halt operations at cement industry transport companies over non-compliance with bargaining council agreement
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Moneyweb reports that the operations of several transport companies have been disrupted – and in some cases halted – by protests led by the SA National Cargo Transport Drivers Association (Sancatdra).
SA Medical Association probes claims that medical interns pay for posts at preferred hospitals
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News24 reports that the SA Medical Association (SAMA) is to investigate allegations that medical interns have been paying for placements at preferred hospitals. In a statement, the association said trading options were being advertised on social media.
Overcrowded Durban trains ‘posing health risk’
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The Citizen reports that while SA continues to endure hundreds of Covid-19 deaths weekly, commuters in Durban say they have no choice but to use overcrowded trains as the cheapest way to get to work.
Rapist who lured unemployed women with promise of work sentenced to three life terms plus 134 years
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News24 reports that the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has sentenced a serial rapist from Kagiso to three life terms and 134 years imprisonment. Percy Matimba Chauke, 36, faced nine counts of rape, six of robbery and one of theft.
Solidarity warns that flawed junior doctor placement system threatens long-term sustainability of health sector
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On Tuesday, trade union Solidarity highlighted the “inefficient and harmful process” by which junior health practitioners were placed for internships.
Two trucks petrol bombed in Mpumalanga on Tuesday morning
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News24 reports that two truck drivers narrowly escaped infernos when their trucks were petrol bombed in Mpumalanga during the early hours of Tuesday morning.
‘Drivers live in fear every day’, as trucks run the gauntlet of the N3 highway from hell
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TimesLIVE reports that the N3, one of SA’s busiest trucking routes, has become the most fearful route for truck drivers.
Labour Minister warns of UIF collapse if Ters benefit should be extended again
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Bloomberg reports that Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi has warned that the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) could collapse if it is forced to again extend special benefits to workers who have lost income as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
SABC puts job cuts on hold until end of December to allow for further consultations
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BL Premium reports that after resolving last week to extend consultations by seven days, the board of the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) said on Tuesday it had agreed to halt the retrenchment process until the end of December to allow for further consultations.
Ingonyama Trust puts staff cuts on hold at least until after appointment of new board in January
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Mail & Guardian reports that wide-ranging retrenchments at the Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB) have been put on hold — at least until after the appointment of a new board by land reform minister Thoko Didiza in January.
Netcare sending extra staff to its Eastern Cape hospitals as Covid-19 cases surge in the province
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BL Premium reports that private hospital group Netcare is sending additional staff to its Eastern Cape facilities and is considering suspending elective surgery as the region grapples with a surge in Covid-19 cases.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Monday, 23 November 2020
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In our afternoon roundup, see summaries
of our selection of South African labour-
related stories that appeared thus far on
Monday, 23 November 2020.
Labour Court dismisses Numsa’s application to stop retrenchments in terms of Comair’s business rescue
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Fin24 reports that an application by the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) against Comair, Solidarity and other parties was dismissed by the Labour Court on Monday. Comair, which operates kulula.com as well as British Airways domestically, is currently in business rescue.
Taxi industry bemoans conditions set down by transport department to qualify for Covid-19 relief funds
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Pretoria News reports that the taxi industry has bemoaned the conditions set out by the Department of Transport for its members to qualify for the Covid-19 relief funds.
Africa Check finds no evidence for Mashaba’s claim of 15 million undocumented foreigners in SA
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TimesLIVE reports that fact-checking group Africa Check has responded to Action SA leader Herman Mashaba’s statement that SA has 15 million “undocumented foreigners” by indicating that there is no evidence to support the claim.
David Mabuza’s protection over six-month period cost taxpayers R8.4 million, excluding salary costs
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Lowvelder reports that the 28 policemen who were responsible for the safety and security of Deputy President David Mabuza cost taxpayers R8.4 million over a six-month period.
Search for last miner trapped at Gamsberg zinc mine continues
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Reuters reports that rescuers were still searching for the last of 10 miners trapped at the Gamsberg zinc mine on Saturday and mining activity remained suspended until further notice, owner Vedanta Zinc International advised.
Retirement fund ordered to pay for costs of DNA test in death benefit dispute
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Rising Sun Overport reports that a pension fund has been slated by the Deputy Pension Funds Adjudicator, Advocate Matome Thulare, for not including a deceased member’s romantic partner and child in the distribution of the deceased’s death benefit.
Fitch says SA’s ability to tame public sector wage bill uncertain
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Bloomberg reports that Fitch Ratings said on Monday that SA might struggle to stick to a plan to rein in government spending by freezing public-sector wages.
Two former Fidelity staffers who allegedly tipped off cash-in-transit robbers arrested on Friday
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TimesLIVE reports that the Hawks on Friday arrested two men for their alleged involvement in a cash-in-transit robbery in Soshanguve, Pretoria, in October last year. They will join four others who were previously arrested for the robbery.
Two bogus Hawks officers bust in Mpumalanga after demanding R50K bribe to quash nonexistent PPE corruption docket
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News24 reports that two people have been arrested in Marble Hall for allegedly impersonating Hawks officers and attempting to solicit a R50,000 bribe.
Eskom security guard shot dead while on patrol in Soweto
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News24 reports that a security officer who was contracted to Eskom was shot dead last week while patrolling in Soweto. "An Eskom-contracted security officer sustained gunshot injuries on Thursday evening while on patrol along the Chris Hani Road in Soweto," the power utility indicated in a statement.
Hundreds of truck drivers protest in Durban on Monday over hiring of foreign national drivers
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TimesLIVE writes that government's inability to resolve the deep-rooted issue of the hiring of foreign national truck drivers has again resulted in protest action.