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.
At least four KZN municipalities temporarily close offices as Covid-19 cases grow
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TimesLIVE reports that at least four municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) have reported Covid-19 cases and have temporarily closed offices.
Treasury commits to ‘mobilise funding’ for a ‘viable and sustainable’ SAA
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BL Premium reports that the ministers of public enterprises and finance have provided a letter of commitment to the business rescue practitioners of SA Airways (SAA) “to mobilise funding for the short-, medium- and long-term requirements to create a viable and sustainable national airline”.
UIF moving along slowly with Covid-19 relief payments, but some workers still waiting for their April and May benefits
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BusinessLive reports that there has been little movement on the arrear Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) payments for April and May despite the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) finally paying out R1.6bn for June applications.
Sale of Edcon’s Jet and Edgars fashion brands means thousands of jobs likely to be saved
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Financial Mail writes that Edcon’s sale of its Jet and Edgars brands, the insolvent fashion group’s two key assets, disproves the general perception that business rescue typically fails.
Afternoon roundup of labour news on Wednesday, 15 July 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
Wednesday, 15 July 2020.
EFF demands immediate sacking of Eskom COO Jan Oberholzer
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News24 reports that the EFF has called for the immediate removal of Eskom COO after a damning report into his alleged misconduct.
Foschini Group looks to raise R3.95bn to reduce debt while laying off staff
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Business Report writes that The Foschini Group (TFG) is looking to raise up to R3.95 billion through a rights offer to reduce its indebtedness and has notified employees that it is in the process of laying off some staff to cut its debt.
Solidarity welcomes DTIC’s move to investigate scrap metal supply
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Engineering News reports that trade union Solidarity has welcomed Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel’s trade policy directive that proposes an investigation into measures to help support the SA metals industry, which is facing significant challenges.
Trade unions divided on approval of SAA business rescue plan
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Engineering News reports that there has been mixed reaction from unions representing employees of SA Airways (SAA) to the approval of the business rescue plan for the embattled state-owned carrier.
UIF resumes Ters payments after beefing up security system to verify banking details
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Engineering News reports that the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has introduced new, more stringent controls to verify banking details in order to ensure that the Covid-19 Temporary Employee Relief Scheme (Ters) does not fall prey to criminal elements.
Study shows Covid-19 cut SA employment figures by some three million, with women worst affected
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Fin24 reports that according to the results of a new study, approximately three million people in SA lost their jobs between February and April as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, while women accounted for two million of the jobs lost.
Consumer inflation at 2.1% in May falls to lowest level in nearly 16 years
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Fin24 reports that annual consumer inflation for May fell to 2.1%, the lowest reading recorded since September 2004. By comparison, inflation in April stood at 3% according to Stats SA.
New Covid-19 taxi rules will not slow the rate of transmission, top scientist warns
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News24 reports that a top scientist has warned that government's new regulations allowing for 100% seating in taxis for short-distance trips cannot be backed up by science and will do nothing to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Cape Town police sergeant dies alone during Covid-19 self-isolation
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News24 reports that a Cape Town sergeant, who self-isolated after finding out she had Covid-19, ended up dying alone in her flat.
As Motshekga cancels meeting with education unions, Naptosa also calls on government to close schools
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News24 reports that with the Covid-19 pandemic in SA gaining momentum, pressure to close schools has been mounting, with the National Professional Teachers' Organisation of SA (Naptosa) joining the choir of voices demanding that schooling be halted.
Over 530 workers at King William's Town textile factory fired for unprotected strike over delayed UIF payments
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News24 reports that more than 530 textile employees have been fired by a King William's Town factory for twice engaging in an unprotected strike after "system errors" at the Department of Labour led to delays in Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) payments.
Thirteen KZN driving licence offices temporarily closed due to Covid-19
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News24 reports that thirteen KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) driving licence testing centres (DLTCs) have been affected by Covid-19 outbreaks and have temporarily shut down until further notice.
Pravin Gordhan tosses SAA hot potato to Tito Mboweni
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BL Premium reports that Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) Minister Pravin Gordhan has tossed the SA Airways (SAA) problem to Finance Minister Tito Mboweni, who has been asked to commit the government by Wednesday to finding more than R10bn to fund a restructured national airline.
According to SA Medical Association, taxi commutes, even with masks, are a dangerous trip
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BusinessLive reports that Dr Angelique Coetzee, president of the SA Medical Association (Sama), advised on Tuesday that commuters spending more than 20 minutes in a fully loaded taxi, without proper ventilation, were at risk of being infected with Covid-19 even if they wore a mask.
PSL players will be tested again before entering ‘bio-bubble’ to complete the season
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BusinessLive reports that Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs will be required to conduct one more round of Covid-19 testing of their players and essential staff before they enter the “bio-bubble” in Gauteng to complete the season.
Unions in education sector call for classes to be suspended until after Covid-19 peak
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BusinessLive reports that education sector unions have called on Department of Basic Education (DBE) Minister Angie Motshekga to suspend schooling until after the Covid-19 peak and have threatened to go on strike if she declined their request.
Mineral resources minister Gwede Mantashe tests positive for Covid-19
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BusinessLive reports that Department of Mineral Resources & Energy (DMRE) Minister Gwede Mantashe has become the first known cabinet minister to test positive for Covid-19.
SAA creditors overwhelmingly support business rescue plan, now state has to find funding of over R10bn
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BL Premium reports that SA Airways (SAA) creditors have voted overwhelmingly in support of the business rescue plan for the airline, giving the Treasury and the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) until Wednesday to provide a letter of commitment that funding will be forthcoming.
Government and pilots’ association snipe ahead of SAA creditors’ meeting to consider business plan
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BL Premium reports that on the eve of a crucial creditors’ vote on the SAA rescue plan, the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has lashed out again at the SAA Pilots’ Association (Saapa), accusing it of wanting to derail the process.
Return of foreign mineworkers taking double the planned time
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Mining Weekly reports that the return of the 12,500 foreign mineworkers to SA’s mines is taking double the time planned. The Minerals Council SA’s initial ten-day plan has become a 20-day plan because of the need to overcome bottlenecks.
Less than half of cabinet ministers confirm the salary cuts promised by Ramaphosa
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BL Premium reports that three months after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that he and his cabinet would take a one-third salary cut for three months and donate the funds to help with Covid-19 relief, it is still not clear whether the entire executive has followed through.
Bemawu livid that SABC breached promise by revealing identities of those who testified at inquiry
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City Press reports that the Broadcasting, Electronic, Media and Allied Workers’ Union (Bemawu) wants the report of a commission of inquiry into interference in the SA Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC’s) newsroom to be retracted.
As wheels come off car rental business, Bidvest Car Rental warns staff that all jobs might become redundant
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Business Report writes that Bidvest Car Rental has warned staff that all the positions in the company, which has more than 100 branches across the country, might become redundant because it plans to close or sell the business.
Denosa calls on members of the public to be honest about their Covid-19 symptoms
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The Star reports that the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) has appealed to members of the public to inform healthcare workers about possible Covid-19 symptoms during screenings.
Five North West MECs test negative for Covid-19 after colleague's death
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News24 reports that members of the North West provincial cabinet – who were close contacts of MEC Gordon Kegakilwe – have been cleared of Covid-19. Kegakilwe, MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, died last Monday following a "short and serious illness".