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commission for conciliationlatest news & developments
Labour market: AI and automation are reshaping the labour market.

Reflections on workers’ regression, resistance and renewal

With millions of South Africans unemployed — particularly young people — employers wield enormous power. The message is clear: “If you don’t accept these conditions, there are…

Seeing red: The decision by the SACP to go it alone during the local government elections leaves workers in a difficult position as their allegiance is
torn between the Communists and the ANC. Photo: SACP

Fragmented workers, the only mourners in ANC-SACP divorce

When workers are divided by political loyalty to competing parties, they cannot effectively unite against employers during wage negotiations

FlySafair said the price of jet fuel at local airports rose by about 70% in just one week, following a surge in global oil prices.
(Wikimedia commons)

Flysafair reaches wage deal with pilots, ending strike

According to union Solidarity, pilots will receive salary increases of between 6% and 6.9% over the next four years

(File photo)

Female pastor successful in constructive dismissal claim

Judgment confirms that where employers fail to properly address grievances or mitigate the cause of a complaint, a constructive dismissal claim may succeed

The CCMA uses dialogue based on conciliation and mediation to transform labour relations.  Photo: Ashraf Hendricks

Justice in the digital age: Can AI transform labour dispute resolution?

Using artificial intelligence would address financial burdens, eliminate geographical restrictions and offer agility in conflict resolution – but there are pitfalls such as bias

(Graphic: John McCann/M&G)

Indian consulate in Durban fired SA worker over China spying claims

Former clerk Siphiwe Mchunu also claims black staff members are subjected to racist treatment

Special Investigating Unit manager accused of harassment

The complainant says the senior manager made romantic advances and told her that her employment future was in his hands

Labour court upholds dismissal of lying municipal chief financial officer

The court overturned the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration ruling that Paul Mpele had been unfairly dismissed

A scaled-down labour inspectorate will leave vulnerable workers at the mercy of ‘unscrupulous employers’

Budget cuts give bad bosses a break

A scaled-down labour inspectorate will leave vulnerable workers at the mercy of ‘unscrupulous employers’

Small business owners closing shop and feeling the financial squeeze

The hopes and dreams of many entrepreneurs have been dashed. We track some of the owners of SMMEs, who talk of losing everything they worked for

Logistical challenge: Workers at pallet hire company Chep South Africa will appear in the labour appeal court next week, seeking to overturn an order that they not be made permanent.  (Luis Enrique Ascui/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

Labour battle: Labour brokers back in court

Some believed a 2018 Constitutional Court ruling would spell the end of labour broking. It didn’t

Minister of Employment and Labour Thulas Nxesi has warned that large-scale job losses are inevitable. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Possible lockdown retrenchments are already soaring

After just three months of lockdown, more than 100 000 workers could lose their jobs

SABC plans to retrench 600 employees

Broadcaster cites “poor sales effectiveness, ineffective commercial product, old pricing models and inadequate technology infrastructure” as driving cuts

The tit-for-tat factional battle for control of the Food and Allied Workers Union has taken yet another twist. (Alet Pretorius/Gallo Images)

No end to Fawu’s factional fight

Leaders of two competing groupings in the Food and Allied Workers Union have fired each other

(Ashraf Hendricks/Ground Up)

CCMA case increases from national minimum wage

Cases referred to the organisation increased by 4% since last year

The National Minimum Wage Act came into force on January 1 2019. (Oupa Nkosi/M&G)

CCMA conference highlights minimum wage struggles

Numerous applications for exemption are hampering the government’s efforts to reach its target of six million workers being paid the minimum wage

The National Minimum Wage Act came into force on January 1 2019. (Oupa Nkosi/M&G)

CCMA cases pile up with new law

But both the commission and the department of labour say they have everything under control

The 2024 annual report by SweepSouth on domestic worker pay and conditions found that many are drowning in debt and depression because of low wages and non-compliance with working conditions laid out in labour laws.(Gallo)

Domestic workers: overworked, underpaid and unprotected

Armed with brooms and mops, domestic workers took to the streets to demand better wages, recourse to legal protection against unscrupulous employers

Print deadline: Thabang Mothelo, a negotiator for the Information Communication and Technology Union, says they are committed to fighting for the rights of journalists. (Oupa Nkosi)

‘Tiso Blackstar is just the beginning’

With half of all journalism jobs gone in South Africa, one union is trying to halt the decline

Close to 100 jobs at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) are on the line as the continent’s leading research centre undergoes restructuring (John McCann)

Job losses threatens the CSIR’s reputation

The council’s climate change research could suffer from job cuts