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Agri SA warns 4 000 jobs are at stake this year as a result of minimum wage increase

By: Marleny Arnoldi 19th February 2021 After surveying 577 participants among member companies, industry association Agri SA has found that a potential 4 384 jobs could potentially be lost in 2021/22 as a result of the increase in the national minimum wage for farmworkers. Agri SA reports that 549 of the 577 participants will exceed... →

A 'more conducive business environment’ needed for South Africa to recover – report

By: Simone Liedtke 18th February 2021 With the largest number of jobs created in 2021’s economic recovery expected to come from the private sector, President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that government will need to continue working with the private sector to create “a more conducive business environment” as an enabler of job creation.... →

TIPS encourages South Africa to leverage just transition imperatives already in place

By: Marleny Arnoldi 18th February 2021 According to Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS), South Africa is in a position where it has a multitude of policies, processes and interventions that could be leveraged towards affecting a just transition to a green economy. During a development dialogue webinar hosted by the... →

Ramaphosa’s SoNA holds bold promises, but lacks finer details, says BLSA

By: Donna Slater 15th February 2021 In his February 13 State of the Nation Address (SoNA), President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted factors that will serve to lift the economy, tackle Covid-19 and boost ailing electricity infrastructure, says Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso. Of particular interest, she says,... →

Agri associations warn of farmworker jobs losses as minimum wage increased

By: Marleny Arnoldi 10th February 2021 Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi has announced that the National Minimum Wage (NMW) for each ordinary hour worked has been increased from R20.76 to R21.69 for 2021, effective March 1. The NMW legislation came into effect on January 1, 2019, starting with R20 an hour, which is the... →

Govt has secured vaccines for 26-million people

By: Sane Dhlamini 5th February 2021 Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize revealed on Friday that government had secured enough Covid-19 vaccines for 26-million people, so far, with more agreements in the pipeline. He revealed that China could be one of the countries that South Africa procures vaccines from. On Monday, the country... →

Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize

Vaccine nationalism may create conditions for increased political turmoil – Zane Dangor

By: Sane Dhlamini 4th February 2021 Special advisor to Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Zane Dangor stated on Thursday that vaccine nationalism is the opposite of the solidarity approach that was spoken of at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic. Dangor was addressing an online discussion on ‘Trade, Patent Law... →

SA fails to make progress in Corruption Perceptions Index

By: Sane Dhlamini 28th January 2021 Civil rights group Corruption Watch pointed out, on Thursday, that corruption has impacted the ability of countries around the world, including South Africa, to manage their health care responses to the coronavirus pandemic. Recent statistics from the Corruption Perceptions Index reveals that... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Executive director of CW David Lewis

Transitioning fossil-fuel labour forces into new sectors critical for ‘clean, just energy transitions’

By: Terence Creamer 26th January 2021 The chair of a new global commission established to offer governments guidance on making their energy transitions more “people-centred” says that the creation of green jobs and the transitioning of existing fossil-fuel labour forces into new sectors will be “key factors for a clean, just energy... →

Danish Energy and Climate Minister Dan Jørgensen, who chairs the International Energy Agency’s new global commission on people-centred clean energy transitions, on the need to integrate social justice with the energy transition. Camera Work: Kutlwano Matala. Editing: Nicholas Boyd.

Report finds educational attainment gaps limit success of women-owned businesses in Africa

By: Simone Liedtke 21st January 2021 A new report by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) on women entrepreneurship, has found that educational attainment gaps limit the success of women-owned businesses in Africa. The report also offers potential solutions to tackle the imbalance. →

R68 766 000 invested in Covid-19 research – Nzimande

By: Sane Dhlamini 18th January 2021 The Higher Education, Science and Innovation Ministry on Monday announced that it has invested R68 766 000 towards coronavirus (Covid-19) research and development. Addressing the media, Minister Dr Blade Nzimande said the funds were approved to support Covid-19 research and development in... →

Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande

Department of Basic Education delays reopening of schools by two weeks

By: Sane Dhlamini 15th January 2021 The Department of Basic Education and the National Coronavirus Command Council announced on Friday that the reopening of private and public schools will be delayed by two weeks. The new dates for the reopening of private schools will vary depending on the calendar that they follow. For public... →

Solidarity publishes return-to-work Covid-19 safety plan

By: Donna Slater 12th January 2021 Trade union Solidarity has compiled and distributed a ten-point plan outlining its strategy for the return-to-work of hundreds of employees following the festive season. Solidarity says the premise of the plan is that employers should be “fearless against the [Covid-19] virus”, as well as... →

Return2Work Initiative, Solidarity Fund launch videos to advance workplace safety

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 12th January 2021 The Return2Work Initiative has launched a range of accessible safe back to work videos to address the need for workplace safety as thousands of South Africans return to work from all over the country. These videos are available free online for use and distribution to any business, union, employee... →

Dept urges health, safety of employees as second wave continues

By: Simone Liedtke 8th January 2021 The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) is urging all businesses to prioritise the health and safety of their employees and to take all necessary steps to ensure they are not exposed to the Covid-19 virus. “It is crucial that industries, businesses and entities, both private and in the... →

REIPPPP requires more traction to address challenges

By: Mamaili Mamaila 11th December 2020 The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) continues to take years to move through the various phases – from initiating tenders to delivering energy to the end-user – which, considering the challenges that South Africa is facing, is a luxury the country cannot... →

PROCUREMENT ROAD MAP The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy will seek to procure 6 800 MW of solar photovoltaic and wind renewable energy from 2022 to 2024

Second wave, cuts to Covid relief are ‘main threats’ to economic recovery

By: Simone Liedtke 10th December 2020 South Africa’s economic recovery, which outperformed forecasts by the International Monetary Fund, is in danger of regressing as a second wave of the Covid-19 virus − fueled by Christmas socialising and travel − and the planned termination of two large relief programmes hit the country. The... →

Fall in energy efficiency investment threatens climate goals – IEA

By: Creamer Media Reporter 3rd December 2020 Investment in energy efficiency worldwide is on course to fall by 9% in 2020, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts, warning that the Covid-induced slump threatens international climate goals. The agency’s ‘Energy Efficiency 2020’ report estimates that global primary energy intensity... →

Upscaling of wind technician training needed to support 14.4 GW roll-out

By: Terence Creamer 3rd December 2020 The planned growth of South Africa’s wind-energy sector over the coming decade, and beyond, will require a material upscaling of the country’s training infrastructure to ensure that there are sufficient South African wind technicians trained to support the building and maintenance of an expanding... →

Photo by Saretec
Trainee wind technicians being put through their paces as the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre

CIDB acts on conviction that creation of construction jobs is at centre of economic recovery

By: Donna Slater 25th November 2020 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,... →

Saice launches career growth platform for engineers

By: Donna Slater 25th November 2020 The South African Institution of Civil Engineering (Saice) has launched an innovative new platform – Saice Connect – that enables its members to network and engage with potential employers and like-minded individuals. The platform is designed to bridge the gap between skills shortages in many... →

Global workforce to reach highest level of risk in 2021 – International SOS

By: Simone Liedtke 25th November 2020 The risk to the global workforce has reached its highest level since 2016, according to the findings of International SOS's 'Risk Outlook 2021' report. The outlook reveals findings from the Business Resilience Trends survey of over 1 400 risk professionals across 99 countries, carried out by... →

International SOS security director for intelligence and operations James Bird discusses the findings of the Risk Outlook 2021 report. Video editing: Darlene Creamer.

Rough road ahead for VUCA-plagued trucking industry

20th November 2020 It is going to take at least five years for South Africa’s economy to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, says Road Freight Association (RFA) chief executive Gavin Kelly. →

DRIVING LEGITIMACY Road freight operators should transport efficiently, safely and refuse to operate in non-sustainable circumstances

Government departments implement initiatives to create more jobs

By: Donna Slater 16th November 2020 Various government departments have commenced with the rollout of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s plan to protect and create jobs as part of his emergency relief package that has been mobilised in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and to address the impacts thereof. To date, Public Works and... →

Pandemic challenges exacerbated for industry

13th November 2020 While construction sites were able to reopen in early May for civil projects, ongoing delays in terms of both the public sector being slow to change gears and client’s additional regulations around health and safety, have exacerbated challenges for both property development and construction... →

COVID-19 CONUNDRUM The Power Group’s construction arm has been hit with challenges no one could have foreseen with Covid-19

Makwetu hailed as gentle, unwavering giant in the fight against corruption

By: Sane Dhlamini 12th November 2020 Business Unity South Africa (Busa) president Sipho Pityana has hailed outgoing Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu as a gentle and yet unwavering giant in the fight against corruption and maladministration, following the news of his death. Makwetu died on Wednesday, at a hospital in Johannesburg,... →

Kimi Makwetu

B4SA proposes alternatives to another hard lockdown in event of a second wave

By: Donna Slater 10th November 2020 To restore and boost investor and consumer confidence in South Africa, Business for South Africa (B4SA) is requesting certainty from government that there will not be another “hard economic lockdown” – such as those of Alert Levels 3 to 5 – in South Africa in the event of a second wave of... →

Ramaphosa urges holiday vigilance to avoid second wave of virus

By: Sane Dhlamini 9th November 2020 With the festive season fast approaching, President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked for vigilance from South Africans to avoid a possible second wave of the coronavirus. He is expected to address the nation this week with an update on government’s Covid-19 strategy. Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

African informal sector is disproportionate

By: Donna Slater 6th November 2020 The informal employment sector within Africa is diverse and presents a range of challenges, notably with a higher percentage of women being employed and a correlation between the informal sector and skills, Ghana-based African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET) research and policy... →

African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET) research and policy engagements senior director Dr Edward Brown discusses the informal business environment in Africa.

Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan presents opportunity to build a better economy, says Saice

By: Donna Slater 4th November 2020 The Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan tabled by President Cyril Ramaphosa in October, provides an opportunity to build a better structured economy, reports South African Institution of Civil Engineering CEO Vishaal Lutchman. Following Ramaphosa’s announcement of the plan, Finance Minister... →

PPPFA invalidity declaration has no effect on BBBEE Act, says commission

By: Donna Slater 4th November 2020 The Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Commission says the ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal that declared the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA) Regulations of 2017 invalid, has no effect on the BBBEE Act and its requirements. The BBBEE Act permits organs of... →

Metso Outotec to sell Vereeniging operations

By: Simone Liedtke 3rd November 2020 Consultations evaluating the closure or other alternatives related to former Metso Outotec operations in Vereeniging, South Africa, have been concluded and resulted in the decision to divest the fabrication, machining and assembly operations and close, or rearrange, the rest of the operations.... →

Difficulties heightened during pandemic, company forges ahead

By: Mamaili Mamaila 30th October 2020 South Africa’s subdued economic growth has been well recorded – even prior to the pandemic, says industrial equipment supplier Verder Pumps South Africa MD Darryl Macdougall. →

CHECK THIS OUT Verder Pumps South Africa also launched the new Verder HI-Clean AODD and EODD pumps earlier this month, with more announcements planned heading into 2021

Private-sector investment key amid challenges

By: Mamaili Mamaila 30th October 2020 From an economic perspective, the Covid-19 pandemic has not affected countries in Africa, apart from South Africa, as much as countries on other continents. →

GET IT TOGETHER While there is so much potential in Africa, political certainty is required in conjunction with more streamlined procurement processes

Ramaphosa in self-quarantine, not showing Covid-19 symptoms

By: Sane Dhlamini 28th October 2020 President Cyril Ramaphosa will be performing his duties from home after a guest at a fundraising dinner he attended tested positive for the coronavirus. According to The Presidency, Ramaphosa is not displaying symptoms. Ramaphosa is regularly screened by the South African Military Health Service... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Numsa to picket at RMI, Mibco offices

By: Marleny Arnoldi 22nd October 2020 The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) will hold a march to all the offices of the Retail Motor Industry (RMI) on October 27 to hand over memorandums of demands at each venue. The RMI is an employer body representing many component manufacturers in the automotive industry. →

WEF says machine-assisted jobs will emerge quicker than expected

By: Marleny Arnoldi 21st October 2020 The World Economic Forum’s (WEF’s) 'Future of Jobs 2020' report finds that Covid-19 has caused the labour market to change faster than expected. The report envisions that, by 2025, automation and a new division of labour between humans and machines will disrupt or displace 85-million jobs... →

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