Major taxi routes in Joburg to be shut down on Monday over permits

Kingdom Mabuza reports that major taxi routes in and around Johannesburg are expected to shut down on Monday as the National Taxi Alliance embarks on a protest that will leave thousands of commuters stranded.  Alliance spokesman Theo Malele said the government's failure to issue operating licences to taxi drivers in a timely fashion rendered them prey to e-tolls.  "Sanral and the government claim that we are exempt from paying e-tolls and yet they know that almost 80% of taxis do not have operating licences.  The government's refusal to issue operating licences means it is rendering our operations illegal on the roads," Malele said.  He added:  "From Monday, we are going to take over the highways and drive past the e-tolls without paying."  But the South African National Taxi Organisation has refused to join the protest, stating that, while there were problems with permits, it believed they would soon be resolved.

• This report is at Times Live

Numsa plays host to the disaffected of the tripartite alliance

Natasha Marrian writes that National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) gatherings have become a meeting place of the disgruntled. Formations and individuals at odds with the ruling ANC and its allies are coalescing around the union, as it forges ahead with its decision to form a United Front, a precursor to a possible workers' or socialist political party to contest future elections. Suspended Cosatu boss Zwelinzima Vavi is the most prominent of the disgruntled, landing deeper in hot water over his public addresses at Numsa events. Suspended SA Democratic Teachers Union president Thobile Ntola is also often greeted warmly by Numsa delegates. Former ANC provincial executive committee member and Limpopo finance MEC David Masondo, who was axed in a wide-spread shake up of the provincial government, introduced a discussion on "Marxist Theories on the Role of the State" at Numsa's political school this week, and chaired a number of sessions thereafter. Marrian says this could be a microcosm of what Numsa's United Front would represent, when it gets off the ground.

Sun International restructuring could see 1700 jobs affected

Business Day reports that almost a quarter of Sun International's workforce in SA could be affected in a restructuring effort to bolster slack profits, the gaming and hotel operator announced yesterday.  It has a local staff contingent of about 7,180 and about "1700 positions could be affected" if the process were to go ahead.  The company acknowledged it was experiencing increasing pressure on revenues along with growing operating costs.  Pallavi Ambekar of Coronation Fund Managers said the restructuring proposals were not entirely unexpected after a management shake-up that saw the appointment of Graeme Stephens as CEO last year.  The SA Commercial Catering and Allied Workers' Union (Saccawu) said the union would issue a detailed response tomorrow.

• Read this report on page 13 of Business Day of 30 January 2014
• See too, 'Sun International: 1700 jobs could be affected', at Moneyweb

Nafcoc: Unemployed youth a time bomb

Chantelle Benjamin reports that Joe Hlongwane, speaking on behalf of the National African Chamber of Commerce (Nafcoc) at the M&G's 20 Years of Economic Transformation Conference, said that unemployed youth was a time bomb and the only solution was the development of a SMME champion in the form of a minister to drive the process.  "If we cannot find a way to assist the school-leavers and university graduates and find a way to give them jobs, then you are creating a time bomb," he said.  Hlongwane contended that the major problem with black economic empowerment was that "we did not concentrate on building companies from the bottom up, instead we bought into existing big business.  There is no focus then on building the BEE sector."  He indicated that SA needed "to improve the institutional frame work for SMME development, everything is frustrated by the silo approached by government.  State organs are not talking to each other and I believe that this can be solved by the appointment of a SMME ministry."

• Read more at Mail & Guardian

Sasco aims to prevent university students from registering

The South African Students Congress (Sasco) will be attempting to block students from registering at universities across the country from today.  This forms part of a mass protest the student body is launching over its dissatisfaction with the National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).  Sasco president Ntuthuko Makhombothi said on Sunday that the protest was over debts owed by the scheme to the universities and a lack of funds for new students.  The problems have resulted in a number of students who have been accepted to study at universities and who qualify for funding being blocked from registering.  Makhombothi said: "There will not be any registration that will happen in the universities until all students can register."  He said it was a matter of solidarity.  The general student strike is due to happen at all universities and college campuses and it will be coupled with protests at the Department of Higher Education and Training in Pretoria and the NSFAS offices in Cape Town.

• Read this report on page 2 of The Star of 27 January 2014
• Read too, 'Sasco calls for mass strike', atIOL News
• And also, 'Students funding threat', on page 5 of Sowetan of 27 January 2014

Leave/Tracking Tool

The leave or tracking took can be very valuable for any business. 

Read below more on the "why" and "how" on this tool and download a complimentary template of this tool to start using in your business today. 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9brnvq8g1b8nbnf/2014%20Leave%20Planner%20Template.xls

Why do we use this tool?

1. This is a simple, yet very effective way of keeping track of every employees' usage of the 4 types of leave we generally deal with. 
2. It makes it easy to visually depict who is on leave, especially in situations where only 1 person per area is allowed at a given time. It also assist with curbing the confusion with how many days a person has used or has left for their annual leave entitlement.
3. Furthermore, it enables your HR business partner to monitor the usage of sick leave trends that may be used in disciplinary matters pertaining to dishonesty or abuse of sick leave and even incapacity cases.
4. Most importantly, this is a working tool and someone must take responsibility for keeping this on track – depending on the size of your unit or business, you may need to ensure you keep this updated weekly or monthly. 

How do I use this tool?

1. Print a sheet for every employee. 
2. Next to the year, there is space for the employee's name.
3. Get yourself 3 highlighters and a black marker – preferably, yellow, red and green. 
4. Use the indicators at the top to highlight the block in the appropriate colour when people are either on: 
1. Annual leave (AL)
2. Sick leave (SL)
3. Family responsibility leave (FL)
4. Unpaid leave (UL)
5. Keep the sheets in a HR file, where you normally would put employee records such as warnings, time sheets and leave applications forms. 
6. You can either separate the file according to employee name, or per area, ie. (leave applications forms, or Leave Tracker, etc)

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us on info@enigmahr.co.za

DairyBelle workers protest after worker is called a 'baboon'

eNCA reports that workers at DairyBelle's factory in Cookhouse in the Eastern Cape have been on strike since last week to protest a worker allegedly having been called a "baboon".  The protesting workers say they will not return to duty until a senior employee who allegedly made the offensive remark is suspended.  The plant is apparently at a stand-still and DairyBelle has indicated that workers have been locked out because they were participating in an illegal strike.  The Food and Allied Workers' Union (Fawu) said three workers came forward in October last year and reported the matter.  According to DairyBelle, an independent labour law specialist would be appointed to conduct an investigation, but Fawu's media liaison Dominique Swartz said that no steps have been taken and that since October DairyBelle has refused to investigate the allegation.  However, in a statement DairyBelle said: "We responded to Fawu that the allegations would be addressed."

• Based on reports at eNCA and on page 15 of Business Report of 24 January 2014
• Read Fawu's press statement at Cosatu Today

Rising labour and input costs ‘pushing production out of SA’: Neasa

Ntsakisi Maswanganyi reports that National Employers' Association of SA (Neasa) CEO Gerhard Papenfus said on Thursday that SA was losing out on business and opportunities to create more jobs because of escalating labour costs and other input price increases.  Employers unable to cope with higher labour costs were having goods produced elsewhere and brought into SA as finished products, which compromises local jobs, Papenfus said, adding that "Each product that we import means we have exported a couple of jobs."  Manufacturers recently said they were increasingly mechanising as labour strikes were too disruptive.   Papenfus stated that productivity did not match the steep wage increases.  "The term too expensive must be understood within a context of productivity.  Less skilled employees cannot expect high wages.  When we make the entry-level wages too high, these people will not find work."  Dennis George of the Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) said that the blame should not be exclusively placed on workers if productivity did not improve.  "There are certain factors that are beyond the control of the workers.  Productivity is linked to many things, including capital investment (by companies)."

• Read more at BDLive

Rand dives as Amcu strike shuts down platinum belt

The Times reports that, despite a relatively peaceful start to a strike at the world's three biggest platinum producers on Thursday, the rand fell to its lowest level in five years against most major currencies.  The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) brought almost the entire platinum belt in the North West to a standstill when its members commenced striking for a minimum wage of R12500 a month.  Platinum is an important source of foreign exchange for SA and accounts for as much as 8% of total exports.  In late trading on Thursday, the rand touched R11 to the dollar.  The weaker rand will hit consumers soon as it now looks very likely that the petrol price will rise by about 30c/litre early next month, according to numbers from the Central Energy Fund.  If the rand stays at current levels, it could get worse for motorists.  Police spokesman Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said the first day of the strike was peaceful and police were ready for any situation.  "There were reports of intimidation and assault from the mines but no one has laid any charges."

• This report is at Times Live
• Read too, 'Rand breaches R11/$ for first time in over five years', at BDLive

Numsa tells Cosatu ‘no agenda, no meeting

The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) will meet labour federation Cosatu to discuss resolutions taken at the union's special national congress in December only if it was sent an agenda, spokesman Castro Ngobese said.  "We have indicated to them a date we are willing to meet as long as they furnish us with an agenda.  If [there is] no agenda, we won't be in a position to meet," he stated.  He also denied reports that a meeting would be held on Friday, saying that the union had informed Cosatu it could not meet because it would be holding a national shop stewards' council and was would then be having a national political school to discuss implementing decisions taken at the special congress.  At the congress, Numsa resolved not to support the ANC in the forthcoming general elections and called for President Jacob Zuma to resign.  Last week, Cosatu president S'dumo Dlamini said a letter had been sent to Numsa asking for a meeting to discuss the resolutions.

• Read more at Times Live

Hospersa members strike at Life Healthcare's Mount Edgecombe Hospital

Business Day reports that staff employed at Life Healthcare's Mount Edgecombe Hospital and affiliated to the Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of SA (Hospersa) went on strike on Wednesday, demanding that the management lift its wage increase offer from 7% to 8%.  Mount Edgecombe is a 165-bed facility in KwaZulu-Natal.  During the strike, Hospersa has categorically made the point that it rejects the notion of inflation-linked increases and is demanding an increase that "at least begins to speak to the realities of today's economic climate."

• A short report is on page 2 of Business Dayof 24 January 2014

Key Cosatu leaders opt for Parliament

Sowetan reports that troubled Cosatu looks set to lose key leaders who have accepted ANC nominations to serve in Parliament.  Amongst the leader are National Education Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) general secretary Fikile Majola and National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) president Senzeni Zokwana.  Nehawu deputy president Joe Mpisi has accepted nomination for the Gauteng legislature.  Unlike the SA Communist Party, Cosatu leaders have to vacate office should they opt to represent the ANC in government.  Other Cosatu leaders, including its president S'dumo Dlamini, suspended Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi and National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) general secretary Irvin Jim declined nominations.  Sowetan could not establish if Cosatu Free State secretary Sam Mashinini or SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) general secretary Zenzo Mahlangu have signed nomination forms.

• Read this report on page 4 of Sowetan of 24 January 2014

While his members earn as little as R5,000 a month, Mr Amcu’s ‘got it made’

The New Age writes that, with members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) having commenced a wage strike in the platinum belt on Thursday seeking a R12,500 monthly wage, disgruntled shop stewards have accused the union's president, Joseph Mathunjwa, of living a life of luxury.  They also claimed his "flamboyant lifestyle" appeared to have distanced him from the plight of poor workers.  Deeds records show that he owns four immovable properties and also has six cars registered in his name.  Mathunjwa's wife owns five companies.  A senior workers' committee member (unnamed) said:  "We have asked Mathunjwa for a financial report, but we have received nothing.  We have never seen a single statement on the state of our accounts."  Reports indicate Amcu has 100,000 members and its monthly takings in the North West alone reach R5m.  Mathunjwa angrily dismissed the allegation around his lifestyle as false and the work of his detractors, when confronted with the allegations when he arrived at the Lonmin stadium on Thursday in a luxury car.

• Read this report on page 1 of The New Ageof 24 January 2014

'Turbulent' times ahead for labour: Oliphant

Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant on Tuesday warned of turbulence in the labour market.  "Recent developments in the labour front signify a turbulent period ahead, but I still believe that it is incumbent upon me to extend best wishes to you all for 2014," she said at a National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) conference in Pretoria.  On Monday, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) announced it would strike in both the platinum and gold sectors from Thursday.  Job growth was "the most important challenge" for 2014, Oliphant said at the conference.  "We also hope that this year will buck the trend of 2013 that saw a higher number of new contract jobs or short-duration jobs than permanent jobs."  She noted criticism of labour legislation and the labour dispensation, particularly from some international bodies, as well as from local business and the media, but said she certainly did not think labour legislation was too restrictive or that the labour market was over-regulated.  Oliphant indicated that her department was prioritising the promulgation and implementation of the labour bills currently before Parliament.

Consumer inflation (CPI) ticks up to 5.4%, but beats expectations

SA's consumer price index (CPI)‚ used to measure inflation‚ increased to 5.4% year-on-year in December from a 5.3% year-on-year increase the prior month‚ Statistics SA said on Wednesday.  Inflation had been expected to accelerate to 5.5% year-on-year last month‚ according to a BDlive survey of 13 leading economists, whose forecasts ranged from 5.3% to 5.6%.  CPI was 0.3% higher month-on-month in December, from a 0.1% month-on-month rise in November.  Consumers have been warned to expect higher inflation this year as the weaker rand's effects on imports are set to be more pronounced.  Inflation averaged 5.7% last year, compared with 5.6% in 2012.

• Read more at BDLive

Zille and her provincial cabinet say no thanks to pay hike

Andisiwe Makinana reports that Western Cape Premier Helen Zille and her entire provincial Cabinet have declined salary increases, saying they were sticking to the recommendations of the independent commission for the remuneration of public office bearers.  President Jacob Zuma, who also did not take a pay hike in the 2013/14 period, ignored a recommendation from the commission not to increase salaries of politicians earning R1m and above.  Zille told the Mail & Guardian on Tuesday that she had taken a personal decision not to accept the pay hike and, on Wednesday, she revealed that the provincial Cabinet had unanimously taken a decision to abide by the commission's recommendation.  Zille said she was merely complying with the recommendation that people at a certain salary level should not take increases this year.  "I agree with this recommendation, at a time of austerity, but in addition I think we should respect these institutions, which are established for a reason," she stated.  Zuma signed a proclamation on 3 January that effectively increased the salaries of public office bearers by 5%, backdated to April last year.

• Read more at Mail & Guardian

Amcu wage increase unaffordable and unrealistic, say platinum bosses

The wage demands of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) were unaffordable and unrealistic, Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), Impala Platinum (Implats) and Lonmin Platinum said on Tuesday.  On Monday after issuing employers with due notices, the union said it would strike from Thursday at those three platinum companies and at various gold mines.  "It is of great concern to the platinum companies that employees are being made promises by Amcu that cannot be delivered upon," the platinum companies' CEOs said in a joint statement.  "Strike action will not only hurt the platinum industry, but will be to the detriment of employees and their families, to communities, and to the country as a whole," the CEOs said.  The companies indicated they were offering increases of 8% to 8.5% for employees in the A and B-band bargaining unit, and 7.5% for level C employees, such as certificated miners, artisans and officials.  They claimed the offers compared favourably to increases in other sectors, and were above the inflation rate of 5.3%.

• Read more at Business Report
• Read too, 'Amplats' Griffith fears strike will foil restructure', at Miningmx

Inequality 'will fuel upheavals', says WEF

A chronic gap between rich and poor was yawning wider, posing the biggest single risk to the world this year, even as economies in many countries began to recover, the World Economic Forum (WEF) said last week.  Its annual assessment of global dangers, which will set the scene for its meeting in Davos this week, concludes that income disparity and attendant social unrest constitute the issue most likely to have a big impact on the world economy in the next decade.  The forum warned of a "lost" generation of young people coming of age in the 2010s who lacked jobs and in some cases adequate skills for work, fuelling frustration.  This could easily boil over into social upheaval, as seen already in a wave of protests over inequality and corruption from Thailand to Brazil.  So far, the massive fiscal and monetary stimulus that has helped stabilise and revive economies has had little impact on the poor, the unemployed and the younger generation.

• Read more at BDLive

SA braces for another year of strikes

MONDAY, 20 JANUARY 2014 10:14

AFP writes that the last two years have been dark times for South African labour relations.  Pay strikes have rolled from sector to important sector -- mining, manufacturing, transport -- leaving a wake of red ink, protests and blood.  Unfortunately, the new year looks much like the last.  This week the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) will move to strike at the world's top three platinum producers.  Its members are demanding a "living wage", which would imply a doubling of salaries.  The union is also ready to move to other sectors.  "We look forward to the wage disputes within the platinum, gold and coal sectors," said Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa.  Robert Besseling, of IHS Country Risk, believes that platinum strikes will lead to rapid "contagion to other sectors, such as gold and coal."  "Strikes beget strikes," said labour analyst Andrew Levy.  "If striking delivers results, it is expected to spread.  That's the situation we find in the past three years."  Rivalry among unions for members has prompted more leaders to adopt a tougher stance in talks with firms.

• Read this article at eNCA

Proposed retrenchments prompt underground sit-in at Mpumalanga colliery

SABC News reports that workers at Vlakfontein Coal Mine, near Ogies in Mpumalanga, have staged an underground sit-in.  The disgruntled workers are employed by Concor Opencast Mining, which is a sub-contractor of state owned mine, African Exploration.  Their grievances include proposed retrenchments.  Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) shop steward at the local Ogies branch, Ernest Mogale, said the workers were prepared to sit underground until their demands are met.  "The employer should come clean with us.  Due to our efforts their contract has been extended by two years.  However, instead of rewarding us for our efforts, they are talking about retrenchments.  We will fight this thing in court, they must not touch any of our members," said Mogale.

Cosatu gives nod to infrastructure bill as driver of new jobs

THURSDAY, 16 JANUARY 2014 10:31

Paul Vecchiatto reports that union federation Cosatu, along with Transnet, Rand Water and Telkom have expressed their support for the Infrastructure Development Bill, saying it will help fast-track key projects that will propel the economy.  The four entities voiced their views during Wednesday's meeting of Parliament's economic development committee, on the second day of the public hearings into the bill.  Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel introduced the proposed legislation late last year to the National Assembly.  The government has identified 18 strategic projects that it believes will serve as economic catalysts.  Cosatu deputy parliamentary liaison officer Matthew Parks said Cosatu believed the infrastructure bill would help create jobs — the most important priority for the labour federation — but that it was worried that many of the jobs would be temporary.  He also said Cosatu believed that labour should have a presence within the overall strategic projects' steering committees to ensure that decent jobs were being created.

NUM stands firm on Eskom wage demands

Engineering News reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) on Tuesday reiterated its demands for double-digit wage and housing increases at Eskom, as the decision on a wage dispute neared.  The union has been engaged in a wage dispute with Eskom since July and the results of an arbitration process, which concluded in November, are expected late in January.  "The delay has deprived our members of an opportunity to receive their salary adjustment at the time when they desperately needed enough funds to cater for their families, including preparations for school reopening," NUM acting energy sector coordinator Ndlela Radebe said in a statement.  Dismissing Eskom's 5.6% wage hike offer and pointing out that the utility's half-year profit reached R12.2bn, NUM general secretary Frans Baleni said the power utility should be "able to adjust to the 8% tariff increase granted by Nersa without disrupting the livelihood of its employees".

SAPS appeals Renate Barnard affirmative action ruling with referral to ConCourt

Carol Paton reports that the SA Police Service (SAPS) has referred last year's landmark ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal on affirmative action, which found the imposition of racial quotas unfair and illegal, to the Constitutional Court for further deliberation.  Trade union Solidarity, which represented the applicant in the case, Capt Renate Barnard, said on Tuesday it had received papers from the SAPS indicating its intention to appeal November's ruling.  Barnard was twice denied promotion on the grounds of race, despite being the strongest candidate.  The application of a rigid numerical formula to achieve employment equity in the workplace was ruled unfair under the constitution.  The judgment specifically pointed out that the act outlaws the use of racial quotas and allows only the setting of flexible targets.  Solidarity executive officer Dirk Hermann said the union was shocked by the SAPS's decision to defend what was clearly "an unlawful practice".

• Read this report at BDLive
• Read Solidarity's press statement atPoliticsweb

Teaching most popular degree option in 2014

TUESDAY, 14 JANUARY 2014 09:30

Prega Govender reports that teaching seems to be the most popular degree among last year's matric pupils.  Although the profession was shunned by matrics years ago, eight universities confirmed that the four-year, bachelor of education degree was in huge demand this year and that they have received almost 57,000 applications for 5,053 places.  Professor Irma Eloff, dean of education at the University of Pretoria, said: "It's a very flexible qualification.  It prepares students not just for teaching but for lots of career opportunities."  She said government's Funza Lushaka bursary scheme for aspiring teachers was also playing a role in attracting the larger numbers.  In total, 22 of the 24 contact universities received almost 750,000 applications for degrees and diplomas across all disciplines, but there are only 127,827 places available.

• This report is at Times Live

SA's skills shortage substantial: Adcorp

TUESDAY, 14 JANUARY 2014 09:18

The Adcorp Employment Index for November and December last year showed that SA's skills shortage was substantial and was not being met by the local supply of high-skilled workers.  "Since the global financial crisis in 2008, approximately 359,000 high-skilled South Africans have returned from foreign work assignments," Adcorp's labour market economist Loane Sharp said.  The SA economy's demand for high-skilled workers has remained relatively stable over the past decade and Sharp named a number of reasons, namely that there was a consistent shortage of high-skilled workers amounting to around 829 000 unfilled vacancies; that the unemployment rate for high-skilled workers has remained roughly constant at around 0.4% (compared to an unemployment rate of 37% for the workforce as a whole); and that the supply of high-skilled foreign workers has been negligible due to strict immigration measures adopted 2002 and further tightened in 2008 and 2010.  Sharp said the restrictions on foreigners living and working in SA should be relaxed, since this would supplement the dwindling local supply of skills.

• Read this report at Fin24

2013 saw tough wage negotiations and industrial action stays in spotlight

Karl Gernetzky provides a useful summary of the major instances of industrial action in 2013. He writes, however, that threatened and actual industrial action have not yet come to an end, with the standoff between mines and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) continuing in the platinum and gold sectors. Possible strike action by Amcu in the platinum sector raises the prospect of an industry-wide stoppage involving Anglo American Platinum, Impala Platinum and Lonmin. With Amcu having declined a Chamber of Mines gold wage offer in September, which was accepted by the other three recognised unions, the union could still mount a strike in that sector. Meanwhile, Amcu's rival, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), is continuing an extended period of industrial action at Northam Platinum's Zondereinde mine. But, even as the two rivals eye each other's wage negotiations, at least a recurrence of strike violence in the mining sector has been largely averted.

Adcorp reports uptick in permanent employment for first time in 16 months

The South African economy created 23,861 jobs across the formal and informal sector in the last two months of 2013, according to the latest Adcorp employment index, released on Monday.  Although most of those jobs were created in the informal sector, permanent jobs in the formal sector showed growth for the first time in 16 months.  The informal sector created 12,722 jobs during November and December, while there were 5,271 new formal-sector permanent jobs and almost 6,000 new temporary jobs.  The construction and transport sectors added jobs, while the financial sector and mining shed workers.  Adcorp labour market economist Loane Sharp said Adcorp had also examined the effect of immigration and emigration.  This showed that about 359,000 highly skilled South Africans had returned from foreign work assignments since the global financial crisis in 2008.  Sharp said SA sat with about 829,000 unfilled vacancies because of a "consistent shortage of high-skilled workers", while the supply of such foreign workers had been "negligible" due to "strict" immigration laws.

• Read this report at BDLive
• See too, Jobs 2013: Informal sector shows SA who's boss, at Mail & Guardian
• And also, 350 000 'gesogte' SA emigrante keer terug, at Volksblad

Amcu members at Amplats, Implats, Lonmin to meet this week over possible strikes

Paul Burkhardt reports that the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) plans meetings with its members this week to decide whether tools will be downed over wage increases at Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), Impala Platinum (Implats) and Lonmin.  It is the largest union at each of those producers.  The union has called for entry-level pay to rise to R12,500 a month, which is more than a doubling of current rates.  "Those are the demands of the workers," Jimmy Gama, national treasurer, said.  "It is up to our members whether they want to stay with that number."  A coordinated strike by Amcu members at the three companies would paralyze production across the world's three biggest platinum producers.  In the final quarter of last year, the union won the legal right to down tools at each of the three companies.  Two other unions, Uasa and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), last month accepted an offer from Amplats for wage increases of up to 8.5%.  Meanwhile, the NUM is meeting on Monday with Northam Platinum, where it has retained its majority status, in an attempt to settle a striker that began there on 3 November.

• Read this report at Mail & Guardian

Numsa now being shunned by ANC and Cosatu

George Matlala writes that the ANC and its alliance partners have started to isolate the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) from their key activities, following the union's decision to dump the ruling party as its political home.  Numsa leaders were excluded from a top Cosatu delegation that met the ANC and the SA Communist party (SACP) this week.  The tripartite alliance political council – which brings together 15 senior leaders from each management structure of the organisations – met on Monday in Mbombela to iron out differences and develop a common election programme.  Numsa resolved at its special congress in December to persuade Cosatu to ditch the alliance, although the union has yet to formally inform Cosatu about its decision to agitate for the collapse of the alliance.  "We have taken a decision not to campaign for the ANC.  But there is no decision to boycott alliance engagements," general secretary Irvin Jim said.  Numsa spokesman Castro Ngobese accused Cosatu president S'dumo Dlamini of isolating the union, even though it would not in any case have attended the ANC manifesto launch.  But for Dlamini, Numsa did not deserve to be part of the alliance activities due to its public attacks on the ANC and the SACP.

• Read more at Sunday Independent

DA to prioritise job creation in its election campaign

Paul Vecchiatto writes that the Democratic Alliance (DA) has placed job creation at the top of its priority list for the 2014 national elections.  It has also vowed to fight corruption and to support a wider social security net, but with the aim of getting unemployed people participating in the economy.  On Friday, the party released the policies that will underpin its election manifesto, to be made known in March.  They include job creation, the economy, economic inclusion (black economic empowerment or BEE), education, innovation, communications, housing, land reform, natural resources, agriculture, labour and health.  But, independent political analyst Daniel Silke commented that the DA was still struggling to define its economic equity policy.  With that debate still being controlled by the ruling ANC, it appears the DA has moved closer to mainstream thinking on empowerment.  Last year the DA got itself into an embarrassing muddle for first supporting and then withdrawing that support from the Employment Equity Bill as it made its way through Parliament.

• Read this article at BDLive
• Read too, 'DA to punt jobs in its election manifesto', on page 6 of Sunday Times of 12 January 2014

Sasol may cut up to 1,000 workers in cost cutting reorganisation: Solidarity

Sasol may cut as many as 1,000 jobs as a result of a reorganisation, according to trade union Solidarity said.  Marius Croucamp, a spokesman for Solidarity, indicated that talks with the union started in late November after Sasol and Boston-based management consultancy Bain & Co. developed proposals to reduce the company's size.  It employs more than 35,000 people in 37 countries.  Sasol plans to save R3bn from cost cuts within the next two to three years, the company had said in a 9 September presentation.  "Due to the progress made in designing the new operating model, we are contemplating potential people impacts as a result of this program," Sasol spokesman Alex Anderson said in an e-mail response to questions, adding that: "We anticipate that for at least the next six months the impacts will be limited to the senior management structures in the organisation."  Croucamp said the union's concern was that, with job cuts, extended families were affected and there was no alternative for workers to go to in the job market.

• This report is at Business Report

Matric not equal to employability, says business body Sacci

The SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) on Tuesday expressed concern over the quality of the matric certificate owing to the relatively low pass requirements.  "The matric certificate should be a fundamental signal to the labour market that a school leaver can perform in at least a low-skilled position," spokesman Pietman Roos said in a statement.  According to him, the business community had reported a growing number of ill-equipped school leavers.  The Chamber called on the education department to raise the pass requirement for matric and to introduce national exams at grade seven and 10.  He also suggested that qualified teachers be supported and that more should be done to ensure the syllabus was of a high standard.  Roos congratulated the matric class of 2013 and wished pupils the best in their future endeavours.

• This report is at Fin24
• Read too, 'Matric success fails to raise prospects for scarce skills', at BDLive

No well-paid jobs for matriculants

Johannesburg - Matriculants hoping to increase their job prospects should look to train further after school, trade union Solidarity said on Monday.

A report by the Solidarity Research Institute (SRI) showed the local labour market was still difficult for young people, even if they had a matric certificate, Solidarity said in a statement.

Nearly one in three young South Africans were unemployed and not in training.

SRI senior economic researcher Paul Joubert, who compiled the report, said matriculants should not expect to find a well-paying job straight out of school.

"Of course, this is not meant to discourage young people from job-hunting for whatever jobs are available, as any work experience increases a person's chances of finding a better job in future," he said.

"However, the best option remains to further one's education."

The report showed that around 50% of job seekers with a matric certificate as their only qualification were employed.

While this was better than those without any training or qualification, with only 30% employed, 80% of people with some form of tertiary qualification were employed.

"Therefore, a matric certificate does improve a person's chances of having a job, but a tertiary qualification improves a person's chances of having a job significantly," said Joubert.

Tertiary education also increased a person's earning potential, with less than 13% of South Africa's adult population having a tertiary qualification.

In 2011, according to the report, out of employed people with only matric certificate, 30% earned more than R6 400 a month and over 13% earned more than R12 800 a month.

Among the employed who had a matric certificate and a further tertiary qualification, 50% earned more than R6 400 a month.

More than 30% earned more than R12 800 a month, and 9.1% earned more than R25 600 a month.

"The next group, people with university degrees, higher diplomas or equivalent qualifications, shows the biggest jump in income levels," Solidarity said.

"Almost 80% of this group earned more than R6 400 per month in 2011. More than half receive an income of more than R12 800 per month, and nearly a quarter earned more than R25 600 per month."

About 7% earned more than R51 200 per month.

(News24)