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Labour News

DPWI, AgriSeta partner to train and certify 400 artisans

By: Marleny Arnoldi 18th September 2020 The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has partnered with the Agricultural Sector Education Training Authority (AgriSeta) to provide artisan development training to 400 Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) participants. Artisan development is often overlooked by school... →

Environmental concerns driving industry change

By: Mamaili Mamaila 18th September 2020 A disruptive change is currently underway in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC-R) refrigerant market, global safety science company UL states. →

GOING GREEN Driven by environmental concerns, global promoters are advocating the phase-out of traditional refrigerants in favour of new alternatives with a lower global warming potential

Breathalyser tests should be adapted, not cancelled

By: Darren Parker 18th September 2020 The misconceptions regarding the potential hygiene risks associated with alcohol breathalyser tests can have a significant negative impact on affected industries, since the safety of staff and expensive equipment can be compromised by intoxicated workers, says alcohol breathalyser and drug... →

RHYS EVANS Lives can be saved and accidents can be avoided if proper alcohol testing continues to be implemented

Acquisition ensures increased OHS offering

By: Darren Parker 18th September 2020 Facilities management services provider Afroteq Advisory, a subsidiary of holding company AFMS Group, expanded its service offering in the occupational health and safety (OHS) sector by acquiring OHS service provider OHS Africa. Acquired in May this year, the new division, OHSAfroteq, forms part... →

Photo by Adobe
A HEALTHY OUTCOME Covid-19 has put health and safety in the workplace at the top of the agenda

Covid-19 outbreak delays launch of dust suppression system

By: Darren Parker 18th September 2020 Environmental solutions company I-CAT intended to launch a new dust suppression system earlier this year but there were many delays owing to the national lockdown, says I-CAT director Lourens Jansen van Rensburg. “While the Covid-19 national lockdown halted many mining operations, the outbreak... →

A MIST OPPORTUNITY I-CAT’s new misting system launch was delayed because of Covid-19, but the company aims to launch it before the end of the year

Engineering collaboration assists local development

18th September 2020 Mechanical engineering contractor Brimis Engineering is working together with air conditioning contractor Blue Hemisphere on the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) installation at the Middelburg Provincial Hospital. →

CDH lawyer warns of retrenchment pitfalls

By: Simone Liedtke 17th September 2020 With a continued low economic growth rate and rising unemployment still painting a bleak picture for South Africa, law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH director Jose Jorge warns that companies will “continue to tighten their belts” in the months ahead, meaning more job losses are likely on the... →

UIF announces final TERS application closing dates

By: Donna Slater 15th September 2020 The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has extended the processing of new claims for April to September following consultations with social partners at the National Economic Development and Labour Council. The new closing dates are final, with the UIF stating that no further applications for that... →

IDC approves R746m for Covid-19 economic relief

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 14th September 2020 Development finance institution, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has approved R746-million and disbursed R440.8-million as part of government’s Covid-19 economic relief measures. Following the onset of Covid-19 in South Africa, the IDC established three interventions in March. →

UIF delays Covid-19 TERS payments to address AGSA audit findings

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 11th September 2020 The payments for the new and outstanding applications for the Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) relief benefits has been halted while the Department of Employment and Labour and the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) improve controls as urged by the Auditor General of South... →

Dube-Ncube to inspect Margate Airport renovations

By: Sane Dhlamini 11th September 2020 KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube will visit Margate on Saturday to inspect R10-million worth of renovations at the Margate Airport as the country observes Tourism Month. Dube-Ncube will be accompanied by KwaZulu-Natal Transport, Community... →

KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube

Industry’s wings seemingly clipped

By: Mamaili Mamaila 11th September 2020 South Africa’s economy is hanging by a thread and this has presented massive challenges for the local aerospace industry, says aircraft design organisation Aerodesigns Africa director Murray Spoelstra. →

GLOBAL SIGHTS SET Similar to the local automotive industry that is manufacturing for European countries, so must there be opportunities to manufacture aircraft under licence for foreign companies

Level playing field key to moving industry forward

By: Mamaili Mamaila 11th September 2020 Transformation should be a top priority among the issues that need to be addressed in manufacturing for the aviation industry, says maintenance solutions provider Dynamic Aerotech technical operation and research director Mulalo Neluheni. →

OPEN UP THE INDUSTRY While there is scope for black people with potential to thrive in this space, this needs to take into account the whole value chain in the aerospace industry

Association laments sector decline

By: Mamaili Mamaila 11th September 2020 The aerospace manufacturing sector is in a “freefall” and there does not appear to be any parachute in sight, says industry body Commercial Aerospace Manufacturing Association of South Africa (Camasa) co-chairperson Themba September. →

AIRING IT OUT In its efforts to ensure that the sector returns to its former glory, Camasa has participated in the process of drafting a sector masterplan

Company helps industry meet extra staff demand

By: Cameron Mackay 11th September 2020 Staffing solutions provider Workforce Staffing’s country manager for Botswana Jimmy Samuels says the freight, logistics and warehousing industry is vital to South Africa’s economy, as many other sectors depend on it to operate. Constantly advancing technologies in this industry create a... →

ESSENTIAL STAFFING SOLUTIONS Workforce Staffings has been providing suitable, trained staff for positions on short notice, ensuring that essential services have been operating under lockdown

BEE not at the expense of meritocracy should be part of recovery, says Zungu

By: Marleny Arnoldi 10th September 2020 Black Business Council (BBC) president Sandile Zungu on September 10 said black economic empowerment (BEE) had a role to play in turning the economy around. During a webinar hosted by the Covid Business Rescue Assistance task team, Zungu discussed how the implementation of economic recovery... →

DUT, Ithala sign MoU to boost KZN economy

By: Sane Dhlamini 10th September 2020 KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube has applauded the recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) between her department’s Ithala Development Finance Corporation and the Durban University of Technology (DUT). The signing, according to... →

KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism And Environmental Affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube

Innovation drives mining efficiency, but also accessibility for women

By: Marleny Arnoldi 9th September 2020 Even though the mining industry has come a long way in providing more opportunities for women, women still only make up 12% of the industry’s workforce. The adoption of new innovations and technology can contribute to increasing the number of women working in the industry, says Women in Mining... →

B4SA welcomes TERS extension

By: Donna Slater 9th September 2020 Business for South Africa (B4SA) has welcomed Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi’s decision to further extend the Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS), operated by the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), to September 15. Earlier in September, Nxesi said that with the lockdown for some... →

FMF appoints chairperson and deputy

By: Donna Slater 9th September 2020 The Free Market Foundation (FMF) has elected Lawrence Mavundla chairperson during its first meeting of the new board following its election at the FMF annual general meeting on July 29. He is supported by deputy chairperson Johanna McDowall. →

Free Market Foundation chairperson Lawrence Mavundla

Covid-19 TERS payments extended until September 15

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 8th September 2020 Following negotiations at the National Economic Development and Labour Council and the signing of the direction to that effect by Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi, the Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme has been extended until September 15. “With the lockdown for some... →

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Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi

Dube-Ncube congratulates CHEM Energy for opening S Africa’s first fuel cell factory

By: Sane Dhlamini 7th September 2020 KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube has congratulated CHEM ENERGY, a subsidiary of Taiwanese conglomerate CHEM Corporation, which has opened its $200-million fuel cell production factory in KwaZulu-Natal at the Dube TradePort Special... →

Photo by Supplied
CHEM Energy President Angelin Maharaj with KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Nomusa Dube-Ncube at the opening of the first fuel cell opened at the Dube TradePort

Numsa approaches Labour Court about Comair salaries, medical aid standstills

By: Marleny Arnoldi 4th September 2020 The National Union of Metalworkers South Africa (Numsa) has approached the Johannesburg Labour Court for an urgent interdict to compel the management of airline Comair to pay outstanding salaries and continue making medical aid contributions on behalf of employees. A hearing has been scheduled... →

Nearly 6 000 Covid-19-related claims lodged with the Compensation Fund

By: Simone Liedtke 3rd September 2020 A total of 5 986 claims have been lodged with the Compensation Fund for persons having contracted the Covid-19 virus while at work. Of this number, 3 782 claims have been submitted directly to the fund and a further 2 009 to Rand Mutual, while Federated Employers received 195 claims. →

SA Innovation Summit to be held virtually

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 3rd September 2020 The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) has partnered with the South African Innovation Summit (SAIS) to host the 2020 Innovation Summit virtual event, which will be held from September 30 to October 1. The summit brings together innovation leaders from different countries,... →

Seifsa, trade unions adopt standstill main agreement

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 1st September 2020 The 19 employer associations affiliated to industry body the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) and the industry’s five trade unions on September 1 formally adopted the 2020 to 2021 standstill main agreement concluded in August. The collective agreement,... →

Public Works and Infrastructure launches youth unemployment database

By: Donna Slater 31st August 2020 The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has launched a district model-type unemployed database for youth, professionals and artisans throughout South Africa. The database will be used to capture and store information on these unemployed groups in an effort to help determine... →

State is falling short of expectations – Ramaphosa

By: Sane Dhlamini 31st August 2020 As South Africa prepares to observe Public Service Month in September, President Cyril Ramaphosa admits that there are fundamental problems government is working to fix. He pointed out that the experience for many South Africans is a State that is falling short of expectations. He said government... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Bleak outlook for South Africa’s unemployment rate − Schussler

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 28th August 2020 The Covid-19 pandemic and the months of lockdown have had an immense negative impact on economies worldwide, with entire industries forced to close their doors, affecting millions of workers who either lost their income for weeks on end or lost their jobs altogether, economist Mike Schussler... →

B4SA notes announcement of resumption of UIF TERS benefit payments

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 28th August 2020 Member organisation Business for South Africa (B4SA) has noted the announcement by the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) that Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) benefits are to resume following the halting of payments owing to investigations into system integrity problems. “The move... →

France donates R1.8m worth of medical equipment to South Africa

By: Sane Dhlamini 27th August 2020 The French government has donated R1.8-million worth of medical material and personal protective equipment to South Africa, which will be distributed to hospitals in the Northern Cape, North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. The donation comes at the request of the South African government as part of... →

UIF lifts delay of Covid TERS benefit payments

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 26th August 2020 The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has resumed payment of Covid-19 Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) benefits after a 24-hour delay which was necessitated by the need to address some control deficiencies in the Covid TERS online payment system. This is the usual step where, if... →

B4SA disappointed at TERS payment suspension

By: Donna Slater 26th August 2020 Business for South Africa (B4SA) is disappointed that all payments of Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) benefits have been halted pending investigations by the Auditor-General (AG). It is understood that the AG is investigating system integrity... →

Climate-resilient economy is necessary – Ramaphosa

By: Sane Dhlamini 24th August 2020 As South Africa tries to develop an urgent economic recovery programme, it is important that the new economy be resilient in the face of climate change. This was according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his weekly column to the nation. He said a climate-resilient economy was vital in protecting... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Clean coal can still play meaningful role in S Africa

By: Mamaili Mamaila 21st August 2020 Coal is relatively cheap and widely available; therefore, if it is used cleanly and efficiently, it can be a vital part of the economic development of South Africa, says the IEA Clean Coal Centre (IEACCC). →

Photo by Creamer Media
GROWTH POINT About 18 000 jobs were created during the peak of construction at Eskom’s Medupi power plant

Bridgestone to close PE tyre manufacturing plant

By: Simone Liedtke 20th August 2020 Bridgestone Southern Africa (BSAF) has announced the proposed closure of its bias tyre manufacturing plant in Port Elizabeth. It has initiated a Section 189 notice and a consultative process in compliance with the South African Labour Relations Act. About 252 jobs will be lost. →

Informally employed women have been hit hardest by economic hardship, says ISER

By: Marleny Arnoldi 20th August 2020 The Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) at Rhodes University says the informal economy has been affected disproportionately by the Covid-19 crisis. The informal sector comprises about 20% of South Africa’s total employment. →

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