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 worker killed on Wednesday in accident during renovations to Randburg home
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TimesLIVE reports that a construction worker was killed on Wednesday when a structure at a residence in Boskruin, north of Johannesburg, collapsed on him.
Tembisa Hospital CEO challenges his suspension in court, wants to set the record straight over death of Shonisani Lethole
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The Star writes that the gloves are off between suspended Tembisa Hospital chief executive Dr Lekopane Mogaladi and the Gauteng Department of Health (DOH).
Treasury appointed Priya Lutchman as CFO despite her suspension for tender irregularities in previous job
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BL Premium reports that the recently appointed CFO of the National Treasury, Priya Lutchman, was selected for the position in December despite her having been suspended from the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture & Recreation (DSAC&R) for tender irregularities.
Domestic and farm workers get double-digit pay rises from 1 March
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BL Premium reports that Department of Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi has hiked farm and domestic workers’ wages by double-digit figures, despite protestations from the business sector that the increases will lead to a jobs bloodbath.
Mkhize announces that Phase 1 of Covid-19 vaccine rollout plan will continue with Johnson & Johnson at a date yet to be announced
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News24 reports that Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced on Wednesday that SA’s stock of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine would be swapped out, and phase 1 of the country's vaccination plan would commence with the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine.
North West health MEC closes a post office and a home affairs office for flouting lockdown regulations
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News24 reports that North West Health MEC Madoda Sambatha has ordered the closure of the Wolmaransstad Post Office and the Department of Home Affairs offices because of a "persistent failure to comply with Covid-19 regulations".
SANDF halts all intakes for 2021-2022
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The Citizen reports that the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) announced this week that no new intakes for the annual 2021-2022 Military Skills Development System (MSDS) would be accepted.
Future of Ramaphosa’s public jobs scheme in doubt as concerns grow it won’t be funded in the budget
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BL Premium reports that the future of the presidential public employment programme, which promised to put 700,000 people into temporary jobs over six months as a major part of the Covid-19 economic stimulus package, is uncertain as concerns grow that it won’t be funded in the budget.
Five police officers arrested in Limpopo for petrol cards fraud
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SowetanLive reports that the Hawks have arrested five police officers for fraud and theft of fuel allegedly through use of state fleet cards.
Call to prioritise people with disabilities during Phase 2 of Covid-19 vaccine rollout
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Cape Argus reports that disability rights and advocacy groups have raised several concerns over the Covid-19 vaccine rollout and nationwide strategy, particularly for persons with disabilities.
Public Servants Association questions PIC stability after the exodus of several board members
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Business Report writes that the Public Servants Association (PSA) is extremely concerned about the Public Investment Corporation’s (PIC’s) stability amid recent media reports on the exodus of several of its board members.
Mandatory audit firm rotation should happen every five years, says Cosatu
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Moneyweb reports that according to Cosatu, reducing the mandatory audit firm rotation period from 10 years to five and entrenching it into law will be a critical tool in safeguarding against corruption in the public and private sector.
Families of Lily Mine victims speak of endless police harassment, death threats
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The Citizen reports that families of the deceased miners whose bodies are still trapped underground at Lily Mine have braved severe harassment in the last 650 days of camping outside the shaft as they hopelessly wait for their relatives to be retrieved.
Growing criticism with executive pay in SA, but shareholders don’t always indicate what’s at fault
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BL Premium writes that Astral Foods, SA’s biggest poultry producer, was right to question shareholders for them inexplicably voting down the company’s 2021 remuneration policy, as the new policy corrected gripes they had a year before.
Successful union campaign in Western Cape means that hospital cleaners will be among the first to receive Covid-19 vaccine
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Cape Argus reports that hospital cleaners will be among the first health-care workers to get inoculated when the Covid-19 vaccine is rolled out, partly as a result of a union campaign.
Compulsory vaccination in the workplace unlawful, says Solidarity
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Trade union Solidarity has made available a comprehensive legal opinion obtained from external legal counsel which shows that any unilateral decision to make vaccination compulsory in the workplace would be unlawful.
Cricket SA slaps Kugandrie Govender with second suspension after her return to work on Monday following CCMA reinstatement
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BusinessLive reports that Kugandrie Govender reported for duty on Monday after the CCMA lifted her suspension as Cricket SA’s (CSA’s) acting CEO‚ but her return to the office lasted just a few hours before she was sent packing again.
Court application by Numsa and Sacca over SAA wages dismissed by Labour Court
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BL Premium reports that the two biggest unions at SA Airways (SAA) are seeking legal advice after their urgent application over wages was thrown out of court this week.
About 500,000 doses of J&J vaccine available soon to SA health workers in ‘implementation study’
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TimesLIVE reports that according to Johnson & Johnson (J&J) co-principal investigator Prof Linda-Bekker, scientists have about 500,000 doses of the J&J Covid-19 vaccine ready to offer health-care workers countrywide in an “implementation study.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Monday, 8 February 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
Monday, 8 February 2021.
Prasa taken to Labour Court by three sacked executives
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GroundUp reports that three fired executives of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) have gone to the Labour Court to contest their dismissals.
Provident fund annuitisation kicks in from 1 March 2021
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Moneyweb reports that the Taxation Law Amendment Act of 2020 was signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 20 January 2021.
Samwu’s auction of assets of Kopanong municipality to recover unpaid pension contributions halted
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Moneyweb reports that last week the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) was ordered to halt the auctioning of assets belonging to the Kopanong municipality.
Minister and health expert affirm that healthcare workers will not be Covid-19 vaccine guinea pigs
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TimesLIVE reports that healthcare workers would not be used as guinea pigs when SA rolls out its Covid-19 vaccination programme.
Former boss of Free State sports body to challenge dismissal in CCMA arbitration case
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BusinessLive reports that a battle for control of the Free State Sports Confederation (FSSC) is poised to play out in the arbitration hearing of fired CEO Jerry Segwaba scheduled to begin on Monday at the CCMA.
Essential services worker fired for not working during level 5 lockdown reinstated by CCMA
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GroundUp reports that a laboratory analyst fired for putting her family’s safety first and refusing to work during the Covid-19 level five lockdown has been reinstated.
Eastern Cape reverses decision to terminate employment of 600 post-community service nurses
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GroundUp reports that the Eastern Cape government has reversed a decision by its provincial department of health (DOH) to terminate the employment of 625 post-community service nurses.
Animal feed plant in Cookhouse shut down by wage dispute, striking workers dismissed
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GroundUp reports that about 25 workers at the Humansdorp Kooperasie in Cookhouse, Eastern Cape, have been dismissed after downing tools for over a week.
Commuter usage dramatically down, so Gautrain drops plan to buy second-hand trains, with Gautrain 2 expansion plan also on hold
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Business Insider SA reports that the Gautrain no longer believes it will soon need more trains to stop overcrowding during peak times.
Trade union attaches Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality assets over outstanding pay of R8.8m
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Moneyweb reports that the Democratic Municipal and Allied Workers Union of SA (Demawusa) recently attached assets belonging to the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality over an outstanding R8.8 million in pay owed to 36 workers.