Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 22 July 2022
Norman Mampane
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#2022YearofWorkersParliament #ClimateAction #JustTransition #Back2Basics #JoinCOSATUNow #ClassConsciousness |
Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin
‘Whoever sides with the revolutionary people in deed as well as in word is a revolutionary in the full sense’-Maoo
Our side of the story
Friday, 22 July 2022
‘Deepen
the Back to Basics Campaign, Consolidate the Struggle for the NDR and Advance the Struggle for Socialism’
All workers urged to take Covid19 vaccine jabs!
Organize at every workplace and demand Personal Protective Equipment Now!
Defend Jobs Now!
Join COSATU NOW!
Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
Ø Employment and Labour urges employers to pay contributions
Ø Deputy Minister Boitumelo Moloi encourages employers to comply with labour laws
- South Africa
- COSATU Free State concerned about the deliberate exclusion of labour from the 4IR Summit
Ø Public Enterprises clarifies call for skilled engineers to help Eskom
Ø Gender Commission on Banyana Banyana bonus structure in terms of gender equality
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Ukraine: While workers defend the country, parliament turns against them
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
Employment and Labour urges employers to pay contributions
21 Jul 2022
UIF urges employers to pay contributions and declare their workers
The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) has urged employers to pay contributions and declare their workers every month, as required by law, to avoid delays with benefit applications and payments.
Speaking at an employer advocacy session in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, UIF Provincial Support Director, Allan Ragavaloo, said the majority of normal benefit payments including the special Covid-19 TERS were delayed due to a lack of up-to-date declarations by employers.
“If employers are 100% compliant with the Fund’s legislation, as well as paying contributions and declaring their workers monthly, we would not experience significant delays with paying claims. The majority of the Covid-19 TERS payments were delayed due to the abundant lack of declarations by employers. If all employers had declared their workers to the UIF prior to the Covid-19 lockdowns, we would not have experienced delays with Covid-19 TERS payments,” said Ragavaloo.
He also explained in detail the error codes that impede Covid-19 TERS payments such as incorrect identity and passport numbers, failed bank verifications, no declarations and salary discrepancies.
“I am encouraging employers to log into the Covid-19 TERS portal on uifecc.labour.gov.za/covid19(link sends e-mail) and if you have any errors, please look at the solutions on the system and rectify the errors so we can process and pay the claim,” said Ragavaloo.
He also stressed that employers who were aggrieved about their claims being rejected are entitled to follow the Fund’s appeal process.
The UIF’s Acting ICT Director, Viwe Gqoli, said the Fund had a responsibility to pay all valid Covid-19 TERS claims that are currently on the system, however, the onus is on the employers to correct the errors because the Fund is not permitted to implement corrections on their behalf.
“The UIF is really trying to close the Covid-19 TERS system and we really advise employers to finalise their claims. Currently, we do not have a backlog on new Covid-19 TERS applications in the system. Instead, we regularly re-run claims that are already in the system hoping that errors have been corrected, but we receive the same outcome of errors. Therefore, we suggest that you correct them before we close the system,” said Gqoli.
He also divulged that the UIF had disbursed R9,2 billion through Covid-19 TERS and R15 million for Workers Affected By Unrest (WABU) in KwaZulu-Natal respectively, bringing relief to thousands of workers affected by Covid-19 lockdowns and the July 2021 unrest.
Addressing the issue of fraud, Deputy Director: Fraud, Sibongiseni Mpanza, stressed that employers must always safeguard their uFiling log-in details. “Giving your uFiling credentials to third parties or other people is similar to people having your bank card and pin because they may commit fraud which could lead to your company being blacklisted by National Treasury,” said Mpanza.
The next employer session will be held on Thursday 28 July 2022 at the Ascot Wedding and Conference Venue at 210 Woodhouse Road in Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, from 09:00.
Media
enquiries may be directed to:
Makhosonke Buthelezi
UIF Director: Communications and Marketing
071 491 7236/ Makhosonke...@labour.gov.za(link
sends e-mail)
Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour
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Deputy Minister Boitumelo Moloi encourages employers to comply with labour laws
20 Jul 2022
Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour encourages employers to work with the department so that they can comply with the labour laws
Boitumelo Moloi, Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, stated that employers are encouraged to collaborate with the Department to be assisted in complying with labour laws; these remarks were made during the mega blitz inspections, today, 20 July 2022, in Potchefstroom, North West.
According to the Deputy Minister, employers should not interpret these inspections as yet another government attempt to intimidate them, but rather as one of the government's mechanisms for creating a conducive working environment that benefits both the employer and the employee, as well as the overall growth of the country's economy.
"The Department's presence during inspections should not be interpreted as intimidation; we are here to assist them in complying because we rely heavily on them for our country's economic growth".
"We will recognize them where they excel, and they should notify us where we fall short", said the Deputy Minister.
These inspections are part of a three-day mega-blitz inspection targeting the Road Freight and Logistics, Iron and Steel, and Manufacturing sectors, during which the Department is checking compliance with Labor Legislation such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Unemployment Insurance Act, Compensation Fund Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), and National Minimum Wage Act.
The blitz is scheduled to end on Friday, 22/07/2022, in collaboration with other government departments and stakeholders such as the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), the South African Police Service (SAPS), and the National Bargaining Council for Road Freight and Logistics Industry (NBCRFLI).
For
enquiries, please contact:
Botsang Huma
Provincial Communication Officer (NW)
Cell: 082 497 7438
E-mail: botsan...@labour.gov.za(link
sends e-mail)
Boikie
Mapuru
Provincial Chief Inspector (NW)
Cell: 082 908 2308
E-mail: Boikie....@labour.gov.za(link
sends e-mail)
Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour
South Africa
COSATU Free State concerned about the deliberate exclusion of labour from the 4IR Summit
Monyatso oa Mahlatsi, COSATU Free State Provincial Secretary, 22 July 2022
The Congress of South African Trade Unions in the Free State has learned through the media that the second phase of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) Summit coordinated jointly by the Free State Government and the Central University of Technology (CUT), took place from the 21st of July 2022 and is scheduled to end on the 22nd of July 2022. It is of extreme concern that labour was not invited to participate in this event.
Labour unions are the epitome of worker struggles, more so the challenges and adverse realities that workers live through since the advent of 4IR and its impact on the economy in general.
The summit was a follow-up to the first phase which took place a few months ago. The objective of the event was to engage on this phenomenon; to constructively explore and manage possible repercussions and yield positive results.
This is no doubt a great initiative which has the potential to stimulate economic growth and create jobs.
Workers remain central to any economic activity and form part of the advancements that may result from the introduction of the 4IR. Despite the arrival of the 4IR, workers will still be needed in the workplace to promote production. The two will be forced to work together.
It is because of these reasons that we are hugely disappointed by the Free State Government and the Central University of Technology failure to appropriately coordinate such a crucial summit which largely affects workers.
We fail to understand how an institution such as CUT that is tasked to protect all interest groups and is designed to develop future leaders, can deliberately undermine workers in this manner. The participation and inclusion of workers in this summit is essential to finding a successful approach in this regard. The provincial government should have not agreed to going ahead with the event without the participation of labour.
We continue to hold the view that technological advancements should be utilized for the sole purpose of enhancing productivity and for the development of workers to be more efficient but not to replace humans in the workplace.
We will continue to seek to engage with both institutions even though CUT has been ignoring our communication for quite some time now. We have made several attempts to the office of the Vice Chancellor to invite them to our Education Summit which took place on the same dates to no avail.
We are not surprised by this as it stems from the attitude of management which has been splayed repeatedly towards NEHAWU- a COSATU Affiliate in the workplace.
We will also raise this matter in our next meeting with Free State Provincial Government.
We will do everything in our power to ensure that labour is not sidelined in the ushering in of 4IR which has the potential of removing labour from the workplace.
Our leaders must understand that exclusion of labour raises suspicion given the current situation where employers led by the state have launched an attack on labour and organizational rights.
The struggle continues!
Issued by COSATU Free State
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Public Enterprises clarifies call for skilled engineers to help Eskom
21 Jul 2022
DPE clarifies clarion call for skilled engineers to help Eskom
In his Budget Vote speech on 20th May 2022, the Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, referred to the lack of engineering and technical skills at State-owned enterprises including Eskom. The experienced engineers and technical skills were mainly hollowed out as a result of State Capture and corruption over the years.
Solidary wrote to the Minister to
offer its assistance in identifying skilled personnel.
Before and after the Budget Vote speech, there have been similar offers of assistance. One such example is the establishment of the Ministerial Review Task Team.
Government has been soliciting the
inputs of many organisations and professionals to assist in identifying individuals who can come back to Eskom and help to get the old power stations back in order and mentor younger managers.
To repeat, The Minister did not approach Solidarity. He simply made a call to all organisations, including the social partners, for skilled personnel regardless of race to avail themselves to be placed at Eskom.
Various professional and business organisations have responded and offered to assist in this regard.
It is a pity that Solidarity and some in the media are politicising this issue in the midst of a crisis that Government is working very hard to address.
Now is the time to work together, without any partisan interests, and assist and support an earnest group of power station managers to improve the performance of the power stations.
Eskom will follow its own internal Human Resources policies and processes to ensure that the appropriate engineers who possess the best skills and experience are hired.
For Media Enquiries contact Richar...@dpe.gov.za(link sends e-mail) or 012 431 1203
Issued by: Department of Public Enterprises
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Gender Commission on Banyana Banyana bonus structure in terms of gender equality
21 Jul 2022
Banyana Banyana Bonus Structure A Slap In The Face of Gender Equality
The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has learnt with disappointment about reports that players for the South African Women’s Senior National Team (Banyana Banyana) will each receive a R55,000 bonus payment for reaching the finals of the Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The Commission believes this amount is unfair for a group of hard-working female athletes who have performed excellently to fly the South African flag high at this tournament. The CGE has in the past held discussions with the South African Football Association regarding the unequal pay structures between men and women’s teams, and we will continue to engage different sport associations and federations on the matter. It is our understanding that players in the senior national men’s team receive different bonus amounts when they participate in tournaments of the same level, and this should be a cause for concern in the sport and athletic fraternity.
This unfairness cannot be allowed to continue. To the best of our knowledge, the South African Football Association (SAFA) had committed to paying Bafana Bafana players R250,000 each had they qualified for the upcoming FIFA Men’s World Cup in Qatar. This is against the backdrop of their appearance fee, camp money, food allowance, etc. The CGE is failing to understand why Banyana Banyana players are not remunerated on the same scale with their male counterparts for all the matches won to reach the finals on Saturday in Morocco.
The CGE is aware that women’s football is not attracting as many sponsorships as the men’s, and we view that as yet another form of systemic gender inequality in our society. We are of the view that it is the duty of the office bearers at SAFA to source more
funds to compensate the women’s team for their sterling work. The Department of Arts, Culture and Sports could have also been approached before making the bonus payments for the women’s team, as SASCOC have previously done following the outcomes of the
Olympic games. The women’s team is the country’s pride and joy, and the players and technical team deserve better treatment and more respect.
The country’s women football structure is not as solid as the men’s, which leads to most active female players falling into abject poverty while their male counterparts continue to earn stable salaries at their respective clubs. The CGE is calling on SAFA to re-think the bonus structure for Banyana Banyana and bring it on par with remuneration structures for the men’s team.
The Commission with continue to engage with SAFA leadership to address this thorny issue of pay gap between the national teams, and gender transformation within the South African football.
Contact Person: Javu Baloyi (Spokesperson)
Email: me...@cge.org.za(link
sends e-mail)
Cell: 083 579 3306
Issued by: Commission for Gender Equality
International-Solidarity
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ILO Director-General welcomes BRICS commitment to green jobs, skills development, workers’ protection
15 July 2022
Guy Ryder warned the BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers, from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, of a growing risk of further labour market deterioration in 2022.
GENEVA (ILO News) – The Director-General
of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Guy Ryder, has welcomed the commitment by the Labour and Employment Ministers (LEMM) of the BRICS countries to promote green employment, invest in skills development and protect workers in new forms of employment.
“Multiple global crises are unfolding in the world. This, in addition to increasing inequalities between and within countries, hampers more than ever our efforts to make labour markets more inclusive, sustainable and resilient,” said Ryder in his remarks to
the ministers from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Amid “growing risks of a further deterioration in labour markets over the course of 2022,” Ryder told the ministers that, “promoting green employment is key for addressing climate change and accelerating green, low-carbon sustainable development.”
“Investing in skills development for a resilient recovery and to make workers future-ready in the face of digitalization, demographic shifts and decarbonization is equally imperative,” emphasized Ryder, who also underlined the importance of “supporting workers
in new forms of employment by providing adequate social protection, actively promoting appropriate regulation.”
The LEMM
Declaration ,
issued at the end of the Ministers’ meeting, which took place on 14 July in Beijing, China, stresses that “the global labour market is still under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with current and future challenges caused by climate change, technological
transition and demographic shifts”.
The declaration identifies three priorities for labour and employment policy responses to the pandemic: promoting green jobs for sustainable development, developing skills for a resilient recovery and protecting workers’ rights in new forms of employment.
In their declaration the BRICS Ministers “commit to acquire a deeper understanding of green jobs, adopt policy measures for employment and human resources development that meet the needs of green growth, low-carbon and sustainable development together with
other government agencies and social partners,” and to take advantage of “the triple benefits of mitigating and adapting to climate change with a just transition for all.”
The declaration also “advocate[s for] greater inter-ministerial coordination as well as government policy support to encourage companies to increase investment in skills development, expand apprenticeship programs, improve the quality and scope of work-based
learning, and promote sustainable business development.”
Recalling the 2019
ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work ,
the
LEMM Declaration underlines the importance of promoting a “human-centred approach to shape the future of work and protect the rights of workers in new forms of employment.”
__________________________
Norman Mampane (Shopsteward Editor)
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 Direct line: 010 219-1348