COSATU Today Special Bulletin, 22 May 2013

[Norman Mampane]

COSATU Today Special Bulletin  

 

Our side of the story

 Wednesday 22 May  2013

‘Strengthen COSATU for total emancipation’

 

 

 

Contents

Workers’ Parliament

Ø  DENOSA, MEC of Health in KZN and Ladysmith Municipality to celebrate International Nurses Day at Ladysmith Indoor Sports Centre: Friday 24 May at 10h00

^{Ø    “From Durban 1973 to Marikana: Lessons for the Labour Movement”-DITSELA Public Debate, 31st May 2013}

Ø  Enabling COSATU Members to Tweet Effectively

South Africa

Ø  Department of Labour Budget Vote Speech 2013/14 by Honourable Minister Mildred Oliphant

Ø  National Treasury Budget Vote 2013/14 delivered by Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan

Ø  Justice and Peace Department

Ø  Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference-Statement on E-tolling and government accountability

International

Ø  International Relations Seminar on Palestine with trade union NEHAWU at Kimberley City Hall (Tonight, 18h00)

 

Announcements

Ø  Media Invitation to NEHAWU 10th National Congress

Ø  NEHAWU vacancy for a Tshwane Regional Organizer

Ø  NEHAWU Vacancy for a Vuyani Mabaxa Regional [Jhb] Organizer

Ø  Africa Day & District Political Schools  Launch  Supported by  Limpopo Arts And Culture Association [LACA] on the 25^th May 2013

Ø  Chris Hani Institute & City Press Public Debate Invitation!

Ø  The South African Medical Association Vacancy for IR Advisor

Ø  The South African Medical Association Vacancy for Organising and Bargaining Officer

Ø  SACP Political Lecture in memory of Comrade Juda Tsotetsi Invitation!

Ø  SAFM/Workers Wednesday coming schedule

Ø  COSATU skinning in the game of social media-Enabling the trade union movement to nurture a communicative platform

Ø  Follow Fred van Leeuwen on Twitter!-EI GS

Ø  Follow ITUC Secretary General-Sharan Burrow

 

Workers’ Parliament!      

   DENOSA, MEC of Health in KZN and Ladysmith Municipality to celebrate International Nurses Day at Ladysmith Indoor Sports Centre: Friday 24 May at 10h00

Cassim Lekhoathi, DENOSA Provincial Secretary, 22 May 2013

 

Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA), the MEC of Health in KZN Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo and the Departments HOD, together with other labour unions in the province, will be co-hosting the International Nurses Day celebrations at Ladysmith Indoor Sports Centre in Ladysmith on Friday the 24^th of May, starting at 10h00.    

 

MEC of Health in the province, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, 2^nd Deputy President of DENOSA, Thandeka Msibi, and Mayor of Ladysmith Municipality, Vincent Madlala will address the hundreds of nurses who will gather at the venue from all corners of the province, including nurses from SANDF and Correctional Services departments. 

 

The address will be focusing on the critical role that nurses play in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).   

  

The International Nurses Day is celebrated by nurses around the world on the 12^th of May. Provinces choose the appropriate date for the celebrations (some would schedule the celebrations before the 12^th of May while others schedule after the 12^th of May). 

 

As per the International Council of Nurses (ICN), this year's theme for the celebration is Closing the gap: Millennium Development Goals 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.     

Nurses around KZN are invited to this very important event in the calendar of nurses, to reflect on their role in relation to meeting the Millennium Development Goals, such as goals four, five and six among others, which fall within the nursing profession as nurses are the majority professionals in health. 

The 12th of May marks the birthday of Florence Nightingale who is considered the pioneer of modern nursing.     

 

MDGs were created by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to galvanise development efforts, set global and national priorities and focus attention, action and resources.

 

The eight MDGs have come to represent an unprecedented level of consensus and were a turning point in the international community’s approach to poverty reduction.

 

Unlike many earlier international developments efforts, the MDGs take a holistic approach to reducing poverty.  

 

The Goals cover not only income poverty reduction per se, but also education, gender equality, health and environmental sustainability, and the need for a global partnership for development that will facilitate the delivery of these aims. Without tackling all these angles simultaneously, sustainable reductions in poverty cannot be achieved. 

 

Members of the media are invited to attend the event and report on it. 

 

The details of the event are as follows:   

 

Venue: Ladysmith Indoor Sports Centre, in Ladysmith. 

 

Date: Friday 24^th of May 2013    

 

Time: 10h00      

     

For enquiries, please contact Cassim Lekhoathi, DENOSA Provincial Secretary in KZN, on 082 821 1465 or 031 305 1417

Or  

Sibongiseni Delihlazo on 079 875 2663 or 012 343 2315  

 ____________

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Partnership with

 

                                     

 

Invites you to the 15^th

^{SIYAKHULUMA SEMINAR}

^{(A joint initiative to stimulate debate on the key challenges facing the labour movement)}

 

 

^{“From Durban 1973 to Marikana: Lessons for the Labour Movement”}

Moderator:  Makhi Ndabeni (Ditsela)

 

^{Speakers:    Eddie Webster ( Society Work and Development Institute) SWOP and the          Director of the Chris Hani Institute (CHI)}

            ^{Andrew Zulu – Former Vice President – Metal & Allied Workers’ Union (MAWU)}                  

^{Date:            Friday, 31st May  2013}

^{Time:            12h00 – 14h00}

^{Venue:          DITSELA House}

              ^{24 Kruis Street (Cnr. Marshall Street)  Johannesburg}                                                  

^{Contact Makhi or Thozama at (011) 331 – 0470 or confirm by faxing reply slip attached}  

____________________________________________________________

Enabling COSATU Members to Tweet Effectively

 

Introduction to COSATU Official Twitter Accounts

Ø  @COSATU2015

Official tweets on current affairs, ideological disposition and for a Question & Answer platform

Ø  @COSATU TODAY _cosatu

Seconds- COSATU roving official tweets on events, quotable sound-bites on speeches/interviews, newsflash etc.

How to Register a COSATU Member Twitter Account

Ø  Go Google and type twitter/sign up

Ø  Versions of name/surname must be completed

Ø  Choose a username/password and don’t forget them

Ø  Update your profile; picture, bio

o   Picture size should be 700k

o   Bio-short narrative who you are

Ø  Examples of Bio; Africa's largest Federation Official tweets, the home of the toiling classes across the world, with more than 2million membership...Amandla! Johannesburg, South Africa · http://www.cosatu.org.za

Ø  Choose who to follow and type @cosatu2015 and @COSATU TODAY _cosatu

Ø  And you’re skinning in the game through COSATU tweets

Communicating messages that matter is like artwork

Social Media generation is here and is unavoidable

‘Let’s skin in the game of COSATU Tweets’

 

South Africa         

   

  Department of Labour Budget Vote Speech 2013/14 by Honourable Minister Mildred Oliphant

Department of Labour, 22 May 2013

Theme: 'Working towards a peaceful environment in labour relations and collective bargaining.'

House chair
Colleagues and compatriots
Fellow South Africans.

Firstly house chair allow me to join millions of our compatriots in paying tribute to one of our best broadcasters Vuyo Mbuli who passed on last weekend. May his soul rest in peace.

Let me remind this house about the clarion call made by the real Congress of the People that met in 1955: Peace and friendship amongst all our people shall be secured by upholding the equal rights, opportunities and status of all South Africa shall strive to maintain world peace and the settlement of all disputes by negotiation – not war.

This budget vote takes place at a time when South Africa enters the critical moment of the collective bargaining season. It is also true that we have experienced greater turbulence in industrial relations in our young nation.

These challenges in the area of labour relations and collective bargaining in the year under review have also provided vital insight and lessons going forward and will be noted in history as necessary painful steps in building our young nation.

Precisely because mining has been and remains a key pillar of our economy, its troubles echo all over the country and affect many industries in its wake. So it was that when ructions occurred recently in the mining sector – especially in the platinum belt, it left in its wake not only dead or maimed compatriots, but a changed collective bargaining framework and a considerable dent in the economy – the effects of which will be felt well into the future.

Added to this, the strikes in the road freight sector and the protest action by farmworkers in the Western Cape reminded us of just how important the responsible exercise of labour relations to the country and to the economy is.

We do want to appeal to citizens not to despair and throw hands in the air on the basis of the challenges we are facing. After all, the very foundation of this nation is based on significantly worse challenges that we overcame. We rise with the morning sun time and time again and rededicate ourselves to the ideal of a better life for all. We do so as part of the human effort and endeavour to create a society on the basis of equality, fairness and justice.

Our country is steeped in the art of negotiation and dispute resolution and for this reason, the Department of Labour in concert with other affected departments, has engaged organised labour and organised business in concluding a peace and stability framework for the mining sector. Talks are also continuing about the character of a new centralised bargaining arrangement in the platinum sector.

In the light of the challenges in the collective bargaining front, and attendant developments, the department will host a labour relations indaba, an event that will see stakeholders and role-players engaged in a conversation on the future of collective bargaining and social dialogue. We want to generate greater interests and concerns of social partners in respect of labour relations conflict, and identify measures to strengthen labour relations and dialogue in order to achieve labour market stability and peace. To achieve this, DoL is working closely with NEDLAC and the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). Out of the pain of Marikana and other hotspots, a nation united in the view of how it wants to deal with challenges of industrial relations will rise.

As part of the learning’s from our troubled year, we have also tabled for discussion the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy report that guided us in the setting of the sectoral determination for farmworkers earlier this year at Nedlac. This is to help us see how some of its recommendations can be incorporated into other policy considerations going forward.

The Minister will be engaging the leadership of the Labour movement to discuss the adversarial nature of our Industrial relations and to explore various ways to arrest the potential threat to our system of collective bargaining. The department will also explore areas that present partnership possibilities such as capacity building and communication. For the collective bargaining institutions to work we need strong and sophisticated union organisations and strong employer bodies. The bulk of the troubles in the collective bargaining processes mirror the state of organisation in the parties that are involved.

As you may well be aware, the department has always deployed either my office or the institutions under my watch to assist parties in disputes and so far, this has worked well. But this defeats the purpose as collective bargaining institutions were created in order to free government from becoming involved in work place issues. You will agree with me that to expect the Minister to become involved in every dispute carry the risk of undermining the very institutions that were set up to do this work and besides, it is not sustainable nor feasible.

House chair,

It is worth repeating that the Department of Labour is alive to its mandate of ensuring that there is decent work pursued under conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity – the ideals that drove our people to create a blueprint called the Freedom Charter.

Our mandate directs us: “To regulate the labour market through policies and programmes developed in consultation with social partners, which are aimed at: improved economic efficiency and productivity; employment creation; sound labour relations; eliminating inequality and discrimination in the workplace; alleviating poverty in employment; enhancing occupational health and safety awareness and compliance in the workplace; as well as nurturing the culture of acceptance that worker rights are human rights.”

As members are well aware, there are bills before Parliament in which we seek to address all of the above. I would like to urge the members to ensure that these bills are passed into law as speedily as possible so that workers can benefit from an improved legislative platform and protections in line with International Labour Organisation standards. The amendments will see an enhanced regime of legal and social protection to deal with current realities in our labour market.

This is in keeping with the promises made in the African National Congress election manifesto in 2009 which promised that: “In order to avoid exploitation of workers and ensure decent work for all workers as well as to protect the employment relationship, (we will) introduce laws to regulate contract work, subcontracting and out- sourcing, address the problem of labour broking and prohibit certain abusive practices.

Provisions will be introduced to facilitate unionisation of workers and conclusion of sectoral collective agreements to cover vulnerable workers in these different legal relationships and ensure the right to permanent employment for affected workers.”

These commitments have the genesis in the Freedom Charter which committed the state to ensure that:

• All who work shall be free to form trade unions, to elect their officers and to make wage agreements with their employers;
• The state shall recognise the right and duty of all to work, and to draw full unemployment benefits;
• Men and women of all races shall receive equal pay for equal work;
• There shall be a forty-hour working week, a national minimum wage, paid annual leave, and sick leave for all workers, and maternity leave on full pay for all working mothers;
• Miners, domestic workers, farm workers and civil servants shall have the same rights as all others who work;
• Child labour, compound labour, the tot system and contract labour shall be abolished.

Allow me house chair to acknowledge in our presence one of the stalwarts that took part in that historic gathering in Kliptown in 1955 – Leon Levy who continues in the effort of attaining a peaceful environment in labour relations as a senior CCMA commissioner. Mr Levy, who in the 1950s and 60s served as President of the South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU), the first non-racial trade union federation in South Africa which advocated for unionisation of workers across the colour bar under the theme “Organise or starve” as well as promotion of One Union One Industry principle.

Let me also pay tribute to another stalwart – in her absence – who was also present at the real Congress of the People in Kliptown. Umama Emma Mashinini who was one of the founding members of the Garment Workers Union and later went on to be elected General Secretary of the Commercial Catering and Allied Workers Union of South Africa.

Here in the hallowed corridors is Honourable Eric Mtshali, popularly known as “Stalin” who also served with great integrity especially with SACTU and continues to inspire and lead. It is stalwarts such as these that showed extraordinary courage and determination, thus contributing to the improvement of working conditions and the formation of strong trade unions for South Africa’s workers.

House chair,

The democratic state post 1994 sought to translate these wishes of thousands that gathered in Kliptown into a reality.

Bringing change to a system so pervasive and systemic like the state-sanctioned discrimination is not an event but a process. We continue therefore to fine-tune the process and evolving our jurisprudence to keep up with changing conditions. We reported to this chamber last year that we had instituted wide-ranging legislative reforms. These reforms include the very effort of curbing the abusive practices visited on workers everyday by the system of labour broking. The fact that both business and labour are up in arms with regard to some of the proposed changes, tells us that we are doing something right.

We promised to continue protecting vulnerable workers as enjoined in the Freedom Charter where it says miners, domestic workers, farmworkers and civil servants shall have the same rights as all others who work.

One of the most effective tools the department employs in protecting the vulnerable sectors of our society are sectoral determinations which regulate the minimum wage that workers can earn in a given industry. Let me repeat. Sectoral determinations regulate the bare minimum wage. To this end, in the past financial year, the department has amended and reviewed the determinations in the Hospitality, Contract cleaning, Civil engineering, Private security; Taxi, Wholesale and Retail and Farm workers sectors.

We are proposing the following changes to the Unemployment Insurance Act.

• Increased benefits to beneficiaries
• Benefits period from eight months to 12 months, which means workers will be paid over a longer period without additional contributions.
• The inclusion of domestic workers on maternity benefits
• In addition a woman who goes on maternity leave will be paid at an income replacement rate from 38% to 66%.
• Workers will be given adequate time to claim UIF up from six months to 18 months for death benefits and 12 months for other benefits.

This is an attestation ladies and gentlemen to a prudent and correct management of the funds by the Unemployment Insurance Fund which has made it possible for the state of affairs where we add to the benefits possible.

After all, bringing those in need under the protective blanket is a function and purpose of developing our young state, as Amartya Sen, in his seminal book Development as Freedom asserts: “Protective security is needed to provide a social safety net for preventing the affected population from being reduced to abject misery, and in some cases, even starvation and death. The domain of protective security includes fixed institutional arrangements such as unemployment benefits and statutory income supplements to the indigent as well as ad hoc arrangements such as famine relief or emergency public employment to generate income for destitutes.”

The proposed changes to the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act will see domestic workers and farmworkers covered by these protective measures. We continue fighting the scourge of child labour, compound labour, the tot system and contract labour as stated in the Charter.

In June, we will be hosting the Child Labour day in Mpumalanga after successfully doing so in Limpopo last year. We are well aware that children are made to do work not suitable for their age especially in the agricultural sector.

Alongside our sister departments, we realise the shortage of skills in our economy and are working to make a difference in this field. To this end, we have partnered with the South African Maritime Safety Association to enable them to tap into our system for the cadets they want to put through the paces of training. We have also agreed to work with the Department for Higher Education and Training to have these cadets placed at FET colleges. As you will hear later, we have also partnered with SETAs to provide training for youth and unemployed people.

I would also like to take this opportunity in congratulating the 2013 class of The Workers College Natal who were awarded diplomas by the University of KwaZulu-Natal in fields like labour studies and labour economics. This college which is partly funded by the Department of Labour provides capacity building for union officials of the three federations’ affiliates to obtain a national academic qualification.

It may very well be that we would be approaching the fiscus in the next medium term budgetary framework to explore whether this noble concept could not be replicated to other provinces as well.

But we also continue lending weight to other efforts to build capacity through our support of Ditsela which is involved in building capacity by training union officials the funding which has been in place since 1996. For the next three years, R30.4-million has been allocated for this purpose.

Colleagues and compatriots,

As you well know, the Department of Labour is comprised of critical branches and allow me to give an update on the different entities.

Unemployment Insurance Fund

The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) continues to play a pivotal role in the area of job creation, ably guided by its board. During the 2012/13 financial year, the UIF and Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) continued their collaboration through the issuance of an additional bond of R2 billion which has increased the total bond to R4 billion. The IDC utilises these funds to lend out to businesses that aim to create or save jobs. Through this partnership, 21 234 new jobs were created and 20 161 saved for the period up to 31 March 2013.

For the 2013/14 financial year, this investment has increased from 5% to 10% of the total investment portfolio. That means well over R8 billion will be made available for investment in manufacturing, mining beneficiation, agriculture and tourism. We have allocated R3.2 billion to the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) to plough into job creation projects, over and above the amount allocated to IDC. We are establishing an Advisory Committee at UIF to ensure that the money invested by the PIC on our behalf creates and lead to job retention.

In addition, the UIF will continue funding Productivity South Africa’s Turnaround Solutions – a three year R39-million a year agreement to assist companies in distress to save jobs and keep people in employment.

The department will also continue re-skilling beneficiaries who lost their jobs for re-integration into the labour market through its “Training of the Unemployed” initiative in collaboration with various government training institutions. An amount of R210 million has been set aside for the current financial year and R1 billion over the three year rolling period. In the 2012/13 financial year, three training initiatives were rolled out involving: 1000 UIF beneficiaries and unemployed youth on various ICT related programmes in collaboration with the MICT SETA, 1000 on mining related artisan programmes in collaboration with the Mining Qualification Authority and 1 500 in various artisan trades in collaboration with the MERSETA.

The UIF has maintained its commitment of R1,2 billion made towards the funding of the Training Layoff Scheme. A total of R105 million has been budgeted for the 2013/14 financial year and R400 million over the three year rolling period.

In all this, the UIF has remained true to its core mandate of collecting contributions from employers and paying benefits to employees who qualify. During the 2012/13 financial year, the collection of revenue increased by 9,8% from R12,3 billion to R13,5 billion against the payment of benefits of R6 billion to 500 000 persons. The projected revenue to be collected is R13,9 billion.

The UIF continues to look for ways to improve accessibility for its services. During the last two years, the UIF has been enhancing the uFiling system to include an online claims portal. The system is being piloted among the few accredited employers with a plan to fully launch it during this financial year. The uFiling system will also continue to provide employers with a platform to register employees and pay contributions online. By the end of March 2013, 42 287 employers utilised the uFiling system.

Inspection and enforcement services

House chair,

In the last financial year, we lost one of our members; the DDG responsible for IES Siyanda Zondeki Nxawe. May her soul rest in peace.

In terms of the work of this branch, during the past year, the department adopted a more targeted approach to inspection and enforcement. It did so by adopting a targeted approach to deal with the most problematic sectors as well as the high risk sectors where levels of non- compliance and injuries on duty are more pronounced as evidenced by our claims history at the Compensation fund.

In the 2012/13 financial year we have conducted 141,744 inspections in these sectors alone. Of these, 112, 672 were in what we term the problematic sectors and 28, 803 in high risk sectors. Over the same period we have seen compliance levels in the problematic sector stabilising at around 64% whilst for the high risk sector we have seen a decline in compliance levels to around 54 percent. The focus on these sectors will continue going forward.

Given this level of compliance, it is necessary for me to remind our social partners that they share a responsibility for ensuring that employers and employees comply with the labour laws of this country. We have jointly formulated our legal framework through social dialogue and we need to work together to ensure an improved level of compliance in our labour market.
 
Labour inspection services play a key role in ensuring enhanced productivity, respect for national laws and protection of worker’s rights. Labour inspection services promote compliance with labour law and aims to enhance the smooth functioning of the labour market. In other words, labour inspection services are an indispensable institution of social policy and sound labour market governance.

Our Roving Inspection Team as well as our Employment Equity team has seen some measure of success during the last financial year. We have requested these teams to follow up on a number of inspections that they have conducted and specifically for the Roving Team we have seen at least 14 cases referred to the justice system for non-compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The Employment Equity Team for the year under review has completed 269 DG Reviews in terms of the Employment Equity Act. The overwhelming majority of companies reviewed - 254 to be exact were found to be non-compliant. We will vigorously pursue compliance going forward.

The department is committed to continuing with its efforts to strengthen the inspectorate. To this end we have devised a number of initiatives over the last financial year that would inform our approach going forward.

At a policy level, we have completed the work in preparation for our ratification of the International Labour Organisation Convention (Convention 81) on labour inspection. It is our aim to register South Africa’s ratification of Convention 81 at the ILO during the course of this year.

We will also seek to amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act to ensure that it not only responds to the needs of a changing economy but also to strengthen powers of our Occupational Health and Safety inspectors.

We are indeed beginning to bite and a number of employers have in this financial year felt the strength of our teeth. As promised in the new financial year, we are going to intensify our efforts to ensure that those who don’t comply with our labour market policies do not sit easy.

Public employment services

In June 2012, the department officially launched the Jobs Fairs and Summits that were conducted in all nine provinces. These fairs were intended to provide an opportunity for work-seekers to meet prospective employers, in both private and public sectors, and other organisations that can assist with placement in different forms of employment or in learning opportunities.

The immediate effect of the Jobs Fairs was as follows:

• 23 726 work seekers were registered in an electronic database;
• 14 253 work seekers received employment counselling to assist them in career choices;
• 8 051 job opportunities were registered by employers accompanied by pledges of real and immediate job opportunities from employers.

The Jobs Fairs were an important start in the process of raising awareness of the public employment service. It is clear that the department will need partnerships with employers and employer organisations if we are to increase the placement rate and a proper meaningful service to the many job seekers in the labour market.

Honourable chairperson,

It is a pleasure to welcome to the House today a number of employers who participated in our Job Fairs and who have made use of the department’s employment service. With them are young, first time entrants to the labour market who have been placed in jobs through our service.

During the last financial year, our employment services managed to register 600 259 work seekers. These are persons who register with the Labour Centres of the department throughout the country. Many of the work seekers that we register, however, come to our offices to claim Unemployment Insurance benefits. The service managed to provide career counselling to 264,068 work seekers, while 16,171 were placed in job opportunities.

Last year, I reported that the Sheltered Employment Factories that fall under the department and that employ more than 1 000 persons with disabilities had started a turnaround strategy. I can now report that the Business Case for the factories has been finalised, as well as an options analysis and implementation plan.

Compensation Fund

The Compensation Fund is responsible for managing the COID Act which deals with compensation for injuries and diseases contracted in the work environment. The Fund has experienced challenges in the last financial. The challenges experienced have been brought to the attention of the Portfolio Committee In our last budget we also made a commitment on the implementation of a turnaround. This has been partly implemented.

We indicated last year that the Fund will launch an online submission of Return of Earnings System. This system was launched in May 2012. To date, close to 200 000 employers switched from manual to an online submission system and the fund was able to collect over R7.3 billion in revenue as a result thereof.

In the period under review, the Compensation Fund paid out over R775 million Rand in pensions to over 295 000 pensioners. We also indicated last year that special attention will be given to improving claims management system. I am glad to say that there have been some improvements on this front, but more still needs to be done. We have managed to process 934 000 invoices in Medical Payments amounting to R1.5 billion Rand, a remarkable improvement indeed.

I have directed the Commissioner and the Director General to initiate a process of piloting the Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA) claim system as a matter of urgency and provide me with regular feedback. We will also be amending the Compensation Fund Act to introduce an enabling provision for Rehabilitation and Early return to work for the injured and diseased workers. The Draft Amendment Bill has been signed-off by the Board and it is going through the internal legal processes.

The Fund has funded a total of 21 Social Civil Society job creation projects and the discussions with the PIC to allocate R3.5 billion investible income for job creation and infrastructure development projects.

Labour Relations

In the area of labour relations, the past year has raised a number of challenges. The department will continue to work with our social partners to stabilise areas where there is conflict in labour relations.

I also want to acknowledge the important work that is being carried out by the CCMA in mediating and conciliating disputes and providing other support, including to platinum mining companies. It is crucial that employers and trade unions do whatever they can to stabilise incidents of unrest wherever they occur.

Regarding our obligations to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), South Africa has been in the forefront of ratifying the different conventions. Recently Parliament ratified the following:

Maritime Labour Convention of 2006: To provide for a modern system of improved conditions of decent work in the maritime sector together with an enforcement regime.

Convention concerning Work in the Fishing Sector of 2007 (No. 188) – To ensure that employees on fishing vessels will have decent conditions of work, including food and accommodation, occupational safety and health, medical care and social security.

Labour Inspection Convention of 1947 (No. 81): To provide useful guidance for designing and monitoring an improved labour inspection system, and

Domestic Worker Convention of 2011 (No. 189): To enhance the protection of domestic work worldwide. In any event, nearly all issues in this convention are already entrenched in the Sectoral Determination for Domestic Workers. There are, however, a few issues that still need to be addressed, such as coverage for domestic workers under the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA).

The HIV and AIDS Code and Technical Assistance Guidelines have been reviewed and aligned with the ILO’s Recommendation 200 concerning HIV and AIDS and the world of work has also been adopted.

The department also hosted a successful Employment Equity Indaba which sought to place back in the public discourse the issue of workplace transformation. This is especially more urgent now to begin to take stock of the impact of the changes that the democratic government has made.

The Commission for Employment Equity’s latest report shows that there is still a long way to go. Employment Equity is not a compliance issue. It is not about ticking boxes. It is a moral and human rights imperative; it is a pre-condition for the achievement of sustainable development, economic growth and equality in the country, which should be supported by decent work initiatives. Pro-active measures are required by organisations to develop and harness an inclusive and diverse workforce that is free from unfair discrimination and is reasonably demographically representative.

Earlier in the year we reviewed the sectoral determination of farmworkers. A number of farmers indicated that they could not meet the determination at R105 a day. We made it clear that subject to certain conditions, it was possible for temporary exemptions to be granted.

Let me now turn to the priorities of the Department of Labour for the remainder of the current year.

Department of Labour strategic priorities, 2013/14

For the 2013/14 financial year, an appropriation of R2, 415 billion has been awarded to the department. This appropriation is duly reflected in the Estimates of National Expenditure (ENE) 2013. The increase of R276 million when compared to the 2012/13 adjusted appropriation can mainly be attributed to the following:

• R23,2 million in respect salary adjustments;
• R50 million in respect of the Sheltered Employment Factories for implementation of the business case;
• R85 million in respect of the CCMA’s roll-out of the web-based case management system.

The spending focus over the medium term will continue to be on protecting vulnerable workers, reintegrating work seekers into the labour market and ensuring decent work.

While we need to strengthen the role of all labour market institutions, it should be noted that in times of high unemployment, the workload for the Department of Labour also increases as there are growing pressures in the labour market. Unfortunately, our budget allocations have not provided much room for expanding services and extending direct support to job seekers, in particular.

In this financial year, the department has an opportunity to:

• Manage for the first time in 10 years its own IT services.
• Improve in to the functioning of the Compensation Fund will be effected. In particular, the claims backlog will be substantially reduced and the turnaround times on claims and employer services improved.

In relation to our legislative and policy environment, we will be focussing on:

• Amendment of the Unemployment Insurance Act.
• Amendment of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act
• Amendment of the Occupational Health and Safety Act
• Amendments to other labour legislation including the promulgation Employment Services Bill that are currently before Parliament.
• This financial year, we are going to up skill 1000 domestic workers as well as train farmworkers in terms of the BCEA, LRA and sectoral determinations.
• The current year should be one in which the Department can focus on promulgation and implementation to improve worker protection and employment security.

Our first priority in the coming year should, however, be to work together to achieve a peaceful environment in labour relations and collective bargaining. This is not a task for government alone. It is one that requires all employers, employees and their organisations to renew our common loyalty to our country and our commitment to its future. As people who live and work in South Africa, we need to take our destiny into our own hands and to find long-term solutions to the challenges that face the future of labour relations and collective bargaining.

We call upon members of this house to join the human effort which seek to stabilise the development of our nation and the creation of a society wherein there shall be work and security for all. As our forebears said, “we will continue to fight for these freedoms side by side, throughout our lives, until we have achieved a better life of South Africans”.

Allow me then members to thank the chairperson and members of the portfolio committee for their work, in keeping us on our toes. We also thank our social partners, organised labour and business for their support. Lastly but most importantly, I want to thank all department officials led by the Director General for their support. I would particularly like to thank the staff in the Ministry whom I sometimes give a hard time.

I would like to finally commend the budget of the Department of Labour to the honourable members of this house.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Labour 
22 May 2013

___________

   National Treasury Budget Vote 2013/14 delivered by Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan

The Treasury, 21 May 2013

Honourable chairperson, in presenting the National Treasury’s 2013 Budget Vote for the consideration of the House, allow me to reflect briefly on where we stand in meeting our longer term social and economic development objectives.

The global economic outlook is still depressed, and so our own efforts to strengthen economic performance remain critically important. I will say a few things about this challenge shortly.

But even in the currently depressed environment, in which growth is lower than we would like and the revenue outlook leaves little room for fiscal expansion, we are continuing to make progress in the service delivery programmes that are central to development and transformation.

Social and economic progress is best measured, Honourable chairperson, over the long term, and in the past nineteen years we have seen substantial advances on several fronts.

Let's reflect on some of these:

• Our economy has grown by over 80 per cent since 1993. National income per capita has increased by 40 per cent in real terms.
• Total employment has increased by more than 3.5 million since 1994.
• Gross fixed capital formation increased from 15 per cent of GDP in 1993 to an average of 20 per cent over the past five years.
• Our social grants system now reaches over 15 million beneficiaries.
• Over 3 million housing units have been built.
• Access to electricity has increased from 50 per cent to over 80 per cent of the population; access to water and sanitation has similarly improved.
• Over 1.6 million work opportunities were created in phase 1 of the expanded public works programme. For the period ahead, it aims to achieve over 500 000 fulltime employment opportunities.
• A new tax administration has been established since 1994 in the South African Revenue Service, and an overhaul and modernisation of the tax structure and administration which allowed tax rates to be lowered alongside broadening of the tax base.
• Over R600 billion in Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) transactions has been recorded since 1995.
• We have demonstrated our capacity to host major global sporting events, and South Africa remains a favoured destination for conferences and events. We continue to see strong growth in tourism.
• Major public infrastructure projects include our partnership with Lesotho in building the Highlands Water Project, completion of the Gautrain rapid rail link, expansion and rehabilitation of our main airports, major national road improvements and the expansion of power generation capacity and rail transport that is now in progress. The total value of infrastructure projects currently under way and in planning amounts to over R3.6 trillion.
• We also had to restructure the fragmented public administration system inherited from the apartheid era (which we tend to forget) while restoring order to the overall public finances.
• Public debt was reduced from nearly 50 per cent of GDP in 1994 to 23 per cent in 2008. Main budget revenue increased from R112 billion in 1994 to over R800 billion last year, while expenditure increased from R135 billion to around R1 trillion.

Honourable chairperson, you will recall that in tabling the 2013 Budget in February I drew attention to the National Development Plan (NDP) which was published last year, and the contribution that it has made to focus our policies and programmes on long-term growth and development challenges. In a sense, the NDP builds on the foundation that I have briefly outlined.

We need the National Development Plan to be a catalyst of ideas, and a spur to further action in addressing the challenges of growth, employment, environmental sustainability, redistribution, social cohesion, education, universal health coverage, social protection and regional economic development.

On infrastructure investment, we also have the work of the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission. On industrial development, we have the Industrial Policy Action Plan. On environmental protection, we also have the biodiversity and sustainable development strategies. All of these plans complement each other.

Much of the work of the National Treasury, Honourable chairperson, is directed at understanding and reviewing the fiscal and financial implications of these strategies and plans. And this is a job that is getting more demanding every year. We have many policies, many strategies, many action plans.

We now need to do better in converting these plans into actions and implementation. And so the House will welcome, I know, the new emphasis on performance, and measuring results, in our budget documentation and also in the Treasury planning documents and the strategic plans of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the Land Bank, the Government Pension Administration Agency, and the other institutions in this ministry.

The plans for 2013/14 of both the Treasury and the Revenue Service were discussed by the Portfolio Committee on Finance last week.

• The Finance Committee has rightly emphasised in its report to the House that not enough is being done to strengthen municipal governance and financial management. We agree. The Treasury has placed 1800 interns in municipalities this year, and we aim to expand further on this programme in the year ahead. As the Committee report says, “National Treasury cannot manage municipalities from Pretoria, as municipalities were responsible and accountable for running their own affairs.”
• The Finance Committee has requested a progress report on the establishment of the Chief Procurement Office and steps taken to improve supply chain management processes and combat corruption. This is indeed a top priority, and a new organisational structure for this office has been agreed, new procurement rules will be implemented this year and steps are being taken to improve the capacity of procurement officials and modernise systems and increase accountability and transparency.
• The Finance Committee has also requested a progress report on provincial financial management interventions. The outcomes for the 2012/13 year show marked improvements in financial performance of provinces in which the National Treasury has been active.
• The Committee has asked for reports on the new automated tax clearance certificate system, the single business registration project, trends in the cost of tax compliance for business and progress with one-stop border posts in Lebombo.

On all of these issues, Honourable Speaker, we are no longer in the policy and planning phase: the tax clearance system gets under way this year; compliance costs are being reduced through simplified systems and new facilities at border posts have been constructed.

Let me turn to the outlook for the economy. Honourable chairperson, we have to face the reality of slow growth internationally, and difficult challenges in our own economy. But it is time to construct a positive narrative, and to work together to implement it. There are many countries that have greater instability, but their economic narrative is extremely positive. South Africans want to focus only on the negative and yet what is needed urgently is to focus on the positive.

In the words of JM Keynes, “The future never resembles the past – as we well know. But, generally speaking, our imagination and our knowledge are too weak to tell us what particular changes to expect. We do not know what the future holds. Nevertheless, as living and moving beings, we are forced to act.”

The burning question for South Africans is not only how we navigate through global uncertainty and risks but can we become more resilient and globally competitive. What will it take and can we up our game? In all the cacophony of the present can we build a common purpose among all of us? That’s what 50 million South Africans demand of us.

We have to build on our strengths:

• good infrastructure
• institutions that work
• robust democracy
• a dynamic private sector
• strong public finances and healthy financial institutions.

Honourable chairperson,

• South Africa’s GDP growth was 2.5 per cent in 2012. Our Budget forecasts project growth of 2.7 per cent in 2013, accelerating to 3.5 per cent next year.
• Overall investment spending remained robust last year, growing by 5.7 per cent. Strong capital investment by the public sector, the addition of electricity-generating capacity, relatively stable inflation and low interest rates are expected to support improved growth rates over the medium term.
• Consumer confidence remains weak, and business surveys also suggest fragile levels of confidence in the economic outlook. This is likely to constrain private household consumption and business investment during 2013.
• Formal sector non-agricultural employment has slowed in tandem with the slowdown in growth, with just 83 000 jobs created in 2012, up 1 per cent on an annual basis.

Labour unrest and stoppages in the mining sector contributed to a much weaker economic performance in 2012. Mining and quarrying subtracted 0.5 percentage points from fourth quarter growth in 2012 and a cumulative 1.2 percentage points from GDP growth in the second half of 2012.

The outlook for the mining sector has been weakened by continued labour unrest and production stoppages, as well as markedly lower commodity prices. In part, slower growth in South Africa reflects a weak global environment.

The International Monetary Fund has downgraded global GDP growth outlook for 2013 to 3.3 per cent from 3.5 per cent previously, although it kept its 2014 estimate unchanged at 4.0 per cent. The IMF sees a three-speed global economy with emerging markets continuing to lead the recovery, and a growing divergence between resilient growth in the US and contraction or sluggish growth in the euro area.

While global financial conditions have improved, the outlook remains weak with downside risks emanating from the Eurozone debt crisis, US fiscal policy challenges, and slower growth in major emerging markets, including China, India and Brazil.

These are clearly circumstances, Honourable chairperson, in which we need to take bold steps to strengthen economic performance.

• The present uncertainty in the labour relations environment in mining and other sectors requires concerted action by organised labour, business, civic leaders and government. There is no room for complacency here: we are all in this together. If we do not resolve our labour relations challenges, we will all be losers, we will see deteriorating confidence, job losses and business failures. But if we find balanced, fair and socially responsible solutions, we all stand to gain: we will see higher investment, higher employment and improvements in living conditions.
• Infrastructure investment is also an arena in which more concerted action is underway. This is not just about building and maintaining the energy, water and transport networks we need for faster growth, but is also about raising our savings performance so that we can finance more rapid investment and growth.
• In urban development, with the city support program we will see more investment in housing and more rapid industrial growth and job creation.
• In rural development and agriculture, we are addressing constraints to land reform and improve support for emerging farmers.
• In further education and skills development, there is greater alignment between the skills that businesses need and the curricula that our colleges offer.
• In regional development and trade, we are beginning to build infrastructure and institutions across national borders that promote more rapid growth, investment and job creation.

I need to stress, Honourable chairperson, that economic growth in our times requires new ideas and a diversity of approaches. In the words of renowned economist Michael Spence, "No one has a complete formula for restoring growth. We will have to be persistent, determined, pragmatic and experimental - a mindset familiar to policy makers in emerging economies where these complex issues are being dealt with on a regular basis."

As part of strengthening our economic performance, a sustainable fiscal policy stance remains critical. Owing to sound management of the fiscus when economic growth was strong, government was able to enter the 2008-2009 recession with healthy public finances and a comparatively low level of debt. This enabled a flexible response to deteriorating economic conditions.

Spending growth reinforced the social security net during a period of declining employment, and provided an economic stimulus through rising allocations towards infrastructure, and programmes aimed at business support and increasing employment. Going forward, the deficit level will moderate through a combination of revenue growth in line with the economic recovery, and disciplined real growth in spending.

The countercyclical response to the downturn in economic conditions has been substantial and by various measures was amongst the largest in the world. From the peak of the economic cycle in 2007/08, the budget balance swung from a surplus of nearly 2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) to a deficit of 6.5 per cent by 2009/10.

This increase in the deficit was not just the result of slowing revenue, as government’s efforts to support the public service delivery and the economy also resulted in expenditure increasing from 28.5 per cent of GDP to 33.6 per cent over the same period.

In aggregate, the final outcome of tax revenue for the 2012/13 fiscal year amounted to R813.8 billion, a 9.6 per cent increase or R71.2 billion higher than actual collections in 2011/12 fiscal year.

The persistence of economic weakness since 2009 has meant that government’s share of the economy has remained substantial and the deficit has remained high. Counter-cyclicality is not just about supporting the economy and sustaining government spending when revenue declines due to economic conditions. It is also about reversing the accumulation of debt built up during difficult times when economic conditions improve.

At the same time, Honourable chairperson, we need to enhance our capacity to finance long-term infrastructure investments and municipal capacity. I am pleased to report that the Corporate Plan of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) outlines a concerted effort to support basic and economic infrastructure development in South Africa and the region. Government will, over the next three years, invest R827 billion in the building of new and the upgrading of existing infrastructure.

These investments will improve access by South Africans to healthcare facilities, schools, water, sanitation, housing and electrification. Simultaneously, investment in the construction of ports, roads, railway systems, electricity plants and bulk water schemes will contribute to faster economic growth. The DBSA has been asked to support government in these critical development areas.

Honourable chairperson, the past year has been a busy one in respect of financial sector reform. A wide range of measures are being taken to improve the environment for retirement savings and reduce the costs and risks associated with financial services. The 2013 Budget Speech announced refined proposals for further consultations with the public.

A central proposal is that pension funds should transfer members’ balances into a preservation fund when they change employer, as the default option, and should also identify suitable retirement annuity products for the years beyond retirement. A harmonised tax treatment of pension and provident fund contributions and benefits is also proposed, together with higher caps on contributions.

We have also proposed steps to enhance the governance of pension funds. I will shortly meet with business leaders in the life insurance industry to discuss costs. A first draft of legislation dealing with these proposals will be published towards the end of the year.

We have taken a number of steps to improve our already world-class financial system. This includes complete overhaul of our securities legislation. Parliament passed the Financial Markets Act last year, and the President has agreed to it coming into operation on the 3 June 2013.

In addition, a comprehensive new set of banking regulations were passed in November 2012, and a new law to oversee Credit Ratings Agencies was passed. In addition, over the past year I have initiated a comprehensive process to deal with abuses in unsecured lending.

In October last year, banks agreed to put in place measures to curb excessive lending to vulnerable households and selling of inappropriate products. On-going monitoring of this is crucial, and the new market conduct regulator will play a critical role.

The National Treasury is involved in a number of areas:

• Infrastructure investment that supports regional integration, including road, rail, and port facilities
• Reducing red tape, corruption and delays at border posts
• Using our financial institutions to partner with businesses wanting to expand into the continent
• Developing regional markets for food, energy and water.

Our participation in Africa-wide and regional bodies also contributes to regional cooperation:

• The Southrn African Development Community (SADC) Finance and Investment Protocol is assisting in bringing about macro-economic, monetary and financial sector convergence, as well as fostering a conducive regulatory and legislative environment to facilitate investments and their financing.
• Reform of the Southern African Customs Union Agreement remains a priority, to improve its contribution to trade promotion and development finance as well as fiscal sustainability for our neighbours.
• Progress is being made in trade facilitation through the creation of one-stop border posts and improved customs legislation to increase border efficiency.
• In addition to the role of the Development Bank of Southern Africa, we are working with our BRICS partners to establish a new development finance institution focused on the needs of emerging economies and African infrastructure investment.

Honourable chairperson, the strategic plan of the National Treasury covers two changes to the organisational structure of the departments: the creation of a fully-fledged Chief Procurement Office (CPO) and the Government Technical and Advisory Services Centre (GTAC).

The CPO is created in response to the need to improve public sector supply chain management processes to curb fraud and corruption, and to derive maximum value for every rand that we spend of taxpayers’ money.

The strategic objectives of the Office include:

• Modernising state procurement by taking advantage of information technology
• Improving compliance with relevant legislative frameworks
• Enhancing governance, and increasing accountability and transparency in state procurement
• Improving capability and performance of supply chain management practitioners.

Honourable chairperson I table Budget Vote 10 for the consideration of the House.

Issued by: National Treasury 
21 May 2013

________   

Justice and Peace Department

Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference-Statement on E-tolling and government accountability

Bishop Abel Gabuza & Bishop Kevin Dowling, Justice and Peace Department Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference, 22 May 2013

 

Faced with the widespread public concern, protest and unhappiness at the decision of Government to go ahead and implement the e-tolling system, we as the Justice and Peace Department of the SACBC feel compelled to highlight some of the key moral issues underpinning this decision:

 

1.   The Accountability of the Executive

Government has a mandate to govern, by virtue of having won an election.  Does this mean that they are unaccountable until the next election?  Clearly not! Transparent public consultations on controversial issues are bound to be held and taken into account. We fear that this has not been adequately done in this case.

2.   Taking due care when utilising funds appropriated from the people of the country

When it appears that the cost of a solution being implemented by Government to address a need is highly inappropriate then it is the duty of all concerned people to demand explanation. Brushing this aside by citing the need for confidentiality breeds suspicion. Transparency is one of the cornerstones of democracy.

3.   The appropriateness of the cost of the GFIP project

It appears that the GFIP project will cost R20.63 billion to construct and a further R20 billion in interest over 24 years, thus totalling R40.66 billion.  The e-tolling solution costs around R1.7 billion to construct and a further R1.2 billion per year to implement, totalling R30 billion over the 24 years.  So the cost of implementing the e-tolling is almost 74% of the total cost of the project!  This hardly seems appropriate! 

4.   Are there alternatives to e-tolling to pay for the new roads?

Government could simply raise the fuel levy on the 22 billion litres of fuel sold yearly in SA by a meagre 10.04 cents to allow treasury to raise the requisite R2.21 billion per year. Why is this not considered?

5.   The costs of the upgrades done during the GFIP – are they all above board?

It began with a cost of around R2.2million per lane-kilometre in 2004. By 2006 the project had changed to a projected cost of around R4million per lane-kilometre.  By 2008 - a cost of around R7.42million per lane-kilometre!  By June 2012 – a cost of around R12.37 million per lane-kilometre.

These massive escalations in cost indicate that some serious investigations need to be initiated regarding possible corruption or price-fixing.

6.   Is it reasonable to ‘Privatise’ existing public roads?

Existing freeways, which serve as the main arterial routes within the economic hub of our country, have been appropriated to create toll roads, while no viable alternative routes exist. This is a serious abdication of government responsibility for public property.

7.   What impact will this e-tolling have on the poor? 

Anything that raises the costs of doing business in the core of our SA economy, will impact on the cost of living, and will disproportionately impact on the poor.  This will inevitably hurt the poorest amongst us, at a time when there have been far too many attacks on their ability to survive.  Why are we investing in more expensive public infrastructure that fails to address the desperate need for an integrated public transport system that is affordable?

We therefore call for the immediate suspension of the GFIP e-tolling project and a full-access review of it by an appropriate forum (the public protector, the auditor general or a judicial enquiry), and we appeal for a re-think regarding alternative methods of funding it.

                                                                  

We also call on all Catholics, all people of faith and all people of goodwill

who are concerned about these issues:

 

·         To take the time to acquaint ourselves with the facts surrounding this project and the decisions made by Government in this regard.  It is incumbent upon us to ensure that we understand the options and the alternatives.

·         To come together to consider ways of taking this matter to our parishes and to our communities, and of showing the authorities how we feel. 

·         To support and collaborate with actions that are being taken on these issues by other organisations such as COSATU.

·         Not to collaborate with the e-tolling procedures until all the matters of concern have been addressed appropriately.

·         To assist in making government accountable to the people of our country, to assist in ensuring that public funds are utilised for the betterment of all our people.

·         To expose and fight corruption in every sphere and on every front.

We would like to publicly support the OUTA-led appeal regarding the Review application, which is due to be heard later this year in the Supreme Court of Appeal.

 

Bishop Abel Gabuza                                                         Bishop Kevin Dowling

Chairperson                                                          Vice-Chairperson

 

Media enquiries:

Fr Mike Deeb, Coordinator, SACBC Justice and Peace Department, 076 234 7148

Mr Mike Roussos, Consultant, SACBC Justice and Peace Department, 083 260 3189

International 

      International Relations Seminar on Palestine with trade union NEHAWU at Kimberley City Hall (Tonight, 18h00)

NEHAWU &BDS South Africa, 22 May 2013

 

Members of the media in the Northern Cape province are invited to an International Relations Seminar hosted by the NEHAWU Provincial International Relations Committee (NEHAWU PIRC).

 

Representatives from the Palestine solidarity organization, BDS South Africa, will be presenting on the Palestinian struggle and the growing international boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel campaign. 

The seminar is open to members of the public as well as members of the media.

NEHAWU International Relations Seminar (Northern Cape)

 

- With presentation on Palestine and boycott against Israel

Date: Wednesday, 22 May 2013

 

Time: 17h00

 

Venue: Kimberley City Hall, Kimberley, Northern Cape

 

Contact: 0842119988 or 0828302587

 

The National, Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) is well known for its vocal position on international issues and internationalism.

In particular, NEHAWU has (with other COSATU affiliates) been at the forefront of the Palestinian struggle. In 2011, NEHAWU was part of the successful academic boycott campaign at the University of Johannesburg (when the University of Johannesburg terminated its institutional relations with Israel's Ben Gurion University).

Then late last year, NEHAWU together with SAMWU, DENOSA and other unions campaigned successfully for the PSI World Congress to adopt a resolution in support of the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel campaign. PSI is one of the largest international trade unions in the world.

 

Finally, earlier this month, NEHAWU has come out in full support of the 11 Wits University students being charged for having protested against an Israeli-embassy funded concert on their campus.

Issued by BDS South Africa National Spokesperson, Muhammed Desai

 

BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS in SOUTH AFRICA (BDS SOUTH AFRICA)

Office 915 | 9th Floor | Khotso House | 62 Marshall Street | Johannesburg 

PO Box 2318 | Houghton | 2041 | Johannesburg

T: +27 (0) 11 492 2414 | M: +27 (0) 84 211 9988 | F: +27 (0) 86 650 4836 

W: www.bdssouthafrica.com | E: admini...@bdssouthafrica.com

www.facebook.com/bdssouthafrica | www.twitter.com/bdssouthafrica

BDS South Africa is a registered Non-Profit Organization. NPO NUMBER: 084 306 NPO

BDS South Africa is a registered Public Benefit Organisation with Section 18A status. PBO NUMBER: 930 037 446

Announcements

Media Invitation to NEHAWU 10th National Congress

Sizwe Pamla, NEHAWU Media Liaison Officer, 21 May 2013 

 

The NATIONAL EDUCATION, HEALTH AND ALLIED WORKER’S UNION {NEHAWU} will be holding its 10^th National Congress from the 26^th -29^th June 2013, at Birchwood Hotel ,Benoni ,Gauteng under the theme:”BUILD STRONG WORKPLACE ORGANISATION,CLASS CONSCIOUSNESS AND INTERNATIONALISM”.

 

The National Congress is the highest decision making body of the union that has the powers to adopt new resolutions and elect new National Office Bearers{NOB}.

 

Delegates from all structures of the union will attend and assess the progress that has been made by the union in implementing its resolutions since the last congress that was held in 2010.

The congress will also pass the new resolutions and map the way forward for the next three years.

 

The gathering will be addressed by the tripartite alliance leaders{ ANC,SACP and COSATU} and other international fraternal organisations.

 

The 10^th National Congress is scheduled as follows:

Ø  Date   : 26-29 June 2013

Ø  Venue            : Birchwood Hotel {Gauteng}

 

Members of the media are invited to attend, cover and report on the congress. To confirm attendance, journalists are requested to send their responses to the National Spokesperson: siz...@nehawu.org.za

 

The following information should be included in the confirmation reply for accreditation and logistical purposes.

Ø  NAME AND SURNAME

Ø  MEDIA INSTITUTION

Ø  E-MAIL AND CONTACTDETAILS

 

Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat

 

For further information, please contact:Sizwe Pamla {NEHAWU Media Liaison Officer} at 011 833 2902- 082 558 5962 or email siz...@nehawu.org.za

 

Visit NEHAWU website: www.nehawu.org.za

____________

   NEHAWU vacancy a for Tshwane Regional Organizer

   

Location: Tshwane Region

Date:  16 May 2013

 

Job Title:	Organizer X 2
Province:	Gauteng Province
Reporting to:	Regional Secretary
Grade:	Grade B4

 

Main Purpose:  To Effectively organize and represent workers

 

Key Performance Areas:

§  To organize and recruit workers within the scope of the union;

§  To co-ordinate collective bargaining work of the union and lead negotiations in all companies and institutions where we bargain locally;

§  To build strong and vibrant branches, shop stewards committees and substructures capable of providing high quality service and representation to members, and attend meetings as necessary;

§  To assist in training and supporting shop stewards and office bearers;

§  To work with Paralegal Officer in building strong paralegal team within the region capable of representing members in disciplinary cases, conciliation and arbitration;

§  To represent members in grievance and disciplinary hearings where and when shop stewards and branch office bearers are unable to do so, and to refer cases to conciliation and arbitration;

§  To submit monthly reports and programs to the Regional Secretary and Phosec

 

The Person:

Individuals meeting the following criteria are to apply:

§  Matric or equivalent thereof

§  Experience of working in a trade union movement

§  Experience in Microsoft Office packages

§  Prepared to work flexible hours

§  Report writing skills

§  Drafting of Agreements

§  Organizing

§  Good Communication skills

§  Knowledge and interpretation of legislation

§   Valid Driver’s License

 

Remuneration:

Membership of Nehawu Provident Fund

Medical Aid

Housing Subsidy subject to completion of the qualifying period

Membership of the NEHAWU Group Schemes

13^th Cheque; and

Salary is based on the Nehawu salary grading system.

 

 

Applications:

Applications  are invited from suitably qualified candidates to apply for a Regional Organiser position. Applications must be accompanied by a C.V., list of at least two references and copy of qualifications must be addressed to:

          The Provincial Secretary

          Provincial Office

             P.O. Box 7394

             Johannesburg

             2000

          Fax to                   :         (011) 333 1696

          Email to      :         gpadmin...@nehawu.org.za

Closing Date:

Closing date for applications is 30 May 2013

 

No late applications will be accepted

________________

    NEHAWU Vacancy for a Vuyani Mabaxa Regional [Jhb] Organizer

 

 

Location: Vuyani Mabaxa (Greater JHB) Region

Date:  16 May 2013

 

Job Title:	Organizer
Province:	Gauteng Province
Reporting to:	Regional Secretary
Grade:	Grade B4

 

Main Purpose:  To Effectively organize and represent workers

 

Key Performance Areas:

§  To organize and recruit workers within the scope of the union;

§  To co-ordinate collective bargaining work of the union and lead negotiations in all companies and institutions where we bargain locally;

§  To build strong and vibrant branches, shop stewards committees and substructures capable of providing high quality service and representation to members, and attend meetings as necessary;

§  To assist in training and supporting shop stewards and office bearers;

§  To work with Paralegal Officer in building strong paralegal team within the region capable of representing members in disciplinary cases, conciliation and arbitration;

§  To represent members in grievance and disciplinary hearings where and when shop stewards and branch office bearers are unable to do so, and to refer cases to conciliation and arbitration;

§  To submit monthly reports and programs to the Regional Secretary and Phosec

 

The Person:

Individuals meeting the following criteria are to apply:

§  Matric or equivalent thereof

§  Experience of working in a trade union movement

§  Experience in Microsoft Office packages

§  Prepared to work flexible hours

§  Report writing skills

§  Drafting of Agreements

§  Organizing

§  Good Communication skills

§  Knowledge and interpretation of legislation

§   Valid Driver’s License

 

Remuneration:

Membership of Nehawu Provident Fund

Medical Aid

Housing Subsidy subject to completion of the qualifying period

Membership of the NEHAWU Group Schemes

13^th Cheque; and

Salary is based on the Nehawu salary grading system.

Applications:

Applications  are invited from suitably qualified candidates to apply for a Regional Organiser position.

Applications must be accompanied by a C.V., list of at least two references and copy of qualifications must be addressed to:

          The Provincial Secretary

          Provincial Office

             P.O. Box 7394

             Johannesburg

             2000

          Fax to                   :         (011) 333 1696

          Email to      :         gpadmin...@nehawu.org.za

Closing Date:

Closing date for applications is 30 May 2013

 

No late applications will be accepted

_________

Africa Day & District Political Schools  Launch  Supported by  Limpopo Arts And Culture Association [LACA] on the 25^th May 2013

 

Programme

Prgoramme Director      : Prov. Deputy Chair Cde Rangers Molapo

 

Opening                                                                 :  10H00

Item   by:  Limpopo Arts & Culture Association                                      :  10H00-10H30    

 

Opening Address by  Provincial Chairperson                     :   10H30 -10H45

Cde Essob Mokgonyana

 

Acknowledgement of Guests by                               :  10H45 – 11H00

Provincial Treasurer Cde  Annah Makgoba

 

The Role Of LACA  in the Province by : The Managing                           :  11H00-11H30

Director James Mabela

 

Item by LACA                                                         :  11H30-12H00

 

Presentation on Africa in History by Cde Rudolph Phala             :   12H00-13H00

 

Presentation on Political Challenges in Swaziland

and Zimbabwe by International Relations Secretary                   :  13H00-14H00

Cde Bongani Masuku                                            

LUNCH                   LUNCH                           LUNCH                                        :   14H00-14H45

 

Launch of District Political Schools By Education Secretary

Cde Lazola Ndamase                                              :  15H00-15H30

 

COSATU Campaigns by Provincial Secretary Cde Dan Sebabi               :  15H30-16H00                                                              

 

Entertainment by LACA                                                                     :  16H00-21H00

___________

Chris Hani Institute & City Press Public Debate Invitation!

 

 

Dear Comrades,

 

We invite you to a Debate.

 

Engaging the National Development Plan: Old wine in new bottles?

 

Jeremy Cronin, Deputy General Secretary, SACP

                                         and

Bobby Godsell, National Planning Commissioner

Moderator: Devan Pillay, Wits University

 

Date: 24 May 2013

Time: 15h00

Venue: 2^nd Floor, Cosatu House, 110 Jorissen Street, Braamfontein

 

RSVP: pris...@chi.org.za or 082 574 2315; Tel: (011) 339 3040  Fax (011) 339 3041

               

_________

   The South African Medical Association Vacancy for IR Advisor

IR Advisor Post

 

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) is seeking to appoint an Industrial Relations Advisor in the Public Sector Division;

 

Job Purpose:  To provide consulting services, representation, support and advice on complex labour and employment related matters to members of SAMA within the assigned provinces.

Job Responsibilities:

 

Operations

·         To provide expert advice and support to members on labour law and labour disputes on a daily basis.

·         To represent SAMA members at grievance process level, disciplinary hearing, conciliation, arbitration and designated labour court proceedings to ensure adherence to fair labour practice and overall integrity.

·         Draft and process all legal correspondence in prosecuting disputes on behalf of members in the dispute resolution forums and in particular at the labour court level

·         Ensure that favourable outcomes for members are implemented fully by the employer as per the agreements.

 

Research & Development

·         To keep abreast of current legal trends and labour law and ensure that effective research is conducted on precedents to ensure that accurate advice, representation and negotiation can be done on behalf of the SAMA members.

 

Reporting

·         Monitor current trends in the public health service and proactively advise members of any changes through publications of IR articles in the SAMA insider. 

·         Ensure that all IR enquiries and disputes are correctly captured onto the case management system thereby ensuring that all cases are managed effectively and efficiently.

 

General

·         Work together with colleagues to ensure that the best possible service is provided to SAMA’s members at all times.

·         Maintains records, prepares reports and composes correspondence relative to the daily work of an IR Advisor.

·          Assist when required the Organising and Bargaining Unit with negotiations on conditions of service for the public sector member by representing SAMA members at required bargaining structures. 

 

Job Requirements:

•    3 year B  degree in HRM / Labour Relations or National Diploma in Labour Law

•    3-5 years experience in a similar role

•    2-3 years experience in the public healthcare sector is desirable

•    Extensive knowledge of Labour Laws such as LRA, BCEA, OHSA, PSA, EEA, etc.

•    Knowledge of Government Regulations and Policies

•    Knowledge of Public Service Collecting agreements

•    Understanding of Collective Bargaining  and Union Environment

•    Knowledge of the laws, regulations, and procedures of collective bargaining

•    Knowledge of rules and standards of conduct in the public sectors.

•    LLB degree is desirable

•    IRASA Membership is desirable

 

Term:  Permanent

To apply: submit a covering letter and a detailed CV to Odessa Sifora

Email: ode...@samedical.org

 

Closing date: 24 May 2013

___________

   The South African Medical Association Organising and Bargaining Officer Vacancy

 

Organising and Bargaining Officer Post

 

The South African Medical Association (SAMA) is seeking to appoint  a Organising and Bargaining Officer in the Public Sector Division

 

 

Job Purpose:

To represent SAMA and its members at collective bargaining forums and manage collective bargaining agreements, disputes and submissions on behalf of the Trade Union. Ensure that all SAMA representatives at the relevant Trade union subcommittees and Branches market and recruit new members, identify issues and support all Trade Union initiatives across the country.

Job Responsibilities

 

Project Management

·         To coordinate designated projects relating to the organising and collective bargaining function, including the  Public service bargaining Councils, provincial chambers and other committees

·         Assist in the implementation of the key objectives as directed by the relevant trade union committees or subcommittees or as required by the external market and collective bargaining arenas.

·         Coordinate the setting up of  the trade union structures and collective bargaining functions

·         In conjunction with the Unit Manager and other internal stakeholders, coordinate and support all efforts relating to industrial action and ensure that SAMA’s image is upheld at all times. 

 

Relationship Management

·         Attend designed meetings relating to the Trade Union function including COSATU structures, Public service Bargaining structures and committees as directed by the Unit Manager and ensure accurate representation of SAMA.

·         Provide feedback to all internal stakeholders after meetings to ensure effective knowledge sharing and generation of actions to address current concerns, trends or opportunities.

·         Build and maintain effective working relationships with external key stakeholders to ensure that SAMA is at the forefront of negotiations and latest news and trends in the Collective Bargaining arena.

 

Marketing

·         In conjunction with the unit Manager and other internal stakeholders like the Marketing Department, assist in the development of a targeted recruitment drive to attract potential non members to grow the SAMA Trade Union membership.

·         Ensure ongoing running of campaigns to recruit new members for the Trade Union and SAMA

 

Operations

·         Ensure that all collective bargaining demands from members are consolidated, researched and submitted for negotiations.

·         Assist the Unit Manger in drafting collective agreements, policies and procedures relating to this function and ensure they are submitted timeously and where required implemented effectively.

·         Assist in the research and monitoring of legislation and case law relevant to this function to ensure that SAMA is consistently proactive and market leaders in terms of policy development and procedures relating to the Collective Bargaining Division and functionality.

 

Job Requirements:

•      Diploma in Labour Relations/Law

•      Postgraduate Qualification in Labour Relations/Law is desirable

•      2-5 years collective bargaining experience

•      1-3 years drafting submissions for consideration

•      Knowledge of Collective bargaining procedures

•      Knowledge of all legislation relating to the healthcare industry and labour(LRA,EEA,BCEA,NHA,OHSA 

      etc)

•      Advanced negotiating skills

•      Computer Skills(MS Office)

•      Excellent Communication skills(verbal and report writing)

•      Conflict Resolution

•      Presentation skills

•      Persuading an influencing skills

 

Term:  Permanent

To apply: submit a covering letter and a detailed CV to Odessa Sifora    

Email: ode...@samedical.org

 

Closing date: 24 May 2013

___________

_________

   COSATU skinning in the game of social media-Enabling the trade union movement to nurture a communicative platform

 

The Congress of South Africa Trade Unions has broken new grounds by enabling its members and the society at large, to shape its progressive work.

 

Follow COSATU General Secretary, cde Zwelinzima Vavi @zwelinzima1 and also COSATU’s Official twitter handles @_cosatu and @cosatu2015, for a second to second update on issues affecting the working class in South Africa and elsewhere.

 

And the Federation has a Facebook Page ; http://www.facebook.com/pages/Congress-of-South-Africa-Trade-Unions-Cosatu-Today/390972744302076?fref=ts

 

Forward with building a strong and vibrant trade union movement through a communication platform.

 

An injury to one is an injury to all!

____________

   Follow Fred van Leeuwen on Twitter!-EI GS

Education International

EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen is now on Twitter - follow @fredvanleeuwen for news, views, insights and highlights from the global education scene.

"Twitter is an amazing tool. Anyone can publish, and re-publish, information instantly, and thus distribute knowledge to thousands of people within minutes. Look at the revolutions in Arab countries that relied on Twitter for rapid communication; or the heated debates that spring up on Twitter during large events like the State of the Union address in the United States - these events show the immense potential the service has," he said.

"I am happy to be able to contribute, and look forward to sharing and discussing with colleagues and friends via Twitter."

To follow Fred van Leeuwen on Twitter, click here to go to@fredvanleeuwen, his Twitter profile. It is also possible to follow@eduint, Education International's offical Twitter account.

____________

Follow ITUC Secretary General-Sharan Burrow

___________

 

Norman Mampane (Communications Officer)

Congress of South African Trade Unions

110 Jorissen Cnr Simmonds Street

Braamfontein

2017

 

P.O.Box 1019

Johannesburg

2000

South Africa

 

Tel: +27 11 339-4911 or Direct 010 219-1342

Mobile: +27 72 416 3790

E-Mail: mam...@cosatu.org.za