The new standard was adopted by a vote of 439 to 4 by delegates, following two years of intense and constructive debate.
"Potentially life-saving"
The standard contains provisions on potentially life-saving prevention programmes and anti-discrimination measures. It also stresses the importance of employment and income-generating activities for workers and people living with HIV, particularly in terms of continuing treatment.
It states that HIV/AIDS should be recognised as a workplace issue, and that there should be no discrimination against workers, in particular jobseekers and job applicants, on the grounds of real or perceived HIV status. Additionally, no workers should be required to undertake an HIV test or disclose their HIV status.
The Conference also adopted a resolution on its promotion and implementation, requesting that a Global Action Plan be established to achieve its widespread implementation.
"No time to waste"
Thembi Nene-Shezi of South Africa, who chaired the debates on the standard in the HIV/AIDS Committee, said “we have an instrument that should be a source of pride for the ILO and its constituents. We have no time to waste however. We must move forward and promote the standard. The engagement of those that have given birth to it – the governments, employers and workers – will be crucial to the development of national workplace policies anchored in human rights and directed at overcoming discrimination.”
Read more
Find out more about HIV/AIDS and Work in South Africa.
]]>It has been criticised for being "noisy" and it's been described as "ugly", but the female condom - the femidom - is here to stay.
Femidoms are condoms meant exclusively for women. They are a modern method of contraception - and they also reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV. Femidoms were invented by Danish MD Lasse Hessel (although history has proved that female controlled contraception methods have widely been in use since ancient times in Egypt, Greece and Rome).
While the femidom has not been as popular in Europe, the UK and the US, it is being used more and more widely in African and some South East Asian countries. For women, it means they have more control over pregnancy and the risk of HIV/AIDs and other STIs. And even their partners are starting to enjoy them!
A recent, as-yet unpublished study in South Africa found that 80% of both men and women liked the female condom.
Read more about the Femidom and also about what South African women have to say about Female Contraception.
]]>Social grants for children below the age of 15 years are available in South Africa. The Child Support Grant (CSG) is there to provide for the basic needs of South African children up to the age of 14 years whose parents or primary care-givers are not able to provide sufficient support because of unemployment or poverty.
A primary care-giver is any person who takes responsibility for the daily needs of a child and who may or may not be related to the child.The primary care-giver is responsible for ensuring that the child is fed, clothed, immunised, and given access to health-care.
It is important to know whether one is eligible to receive a grant if one is a care-giver.
Find out more Child Support Grants in South Africa.
]]>Researcher Nosipho Twala visited three Fan Parks around South Africa during the 2010 World Cup. She went to Soul Tsotesi, Orange Farm and the Cape Town Grand Parade.
She specifically wanted to find out about issues of trafficking and possible sexual abuse or neglect of children, as well as how working conditions have been for the hundreds of South Africans who have been drawn into working for the World Cup, as security staff, cleaners,vendors and in other capacities. She also spoke to young women about their experiences during the 2010 FIFA World Cup
While it was difficult to get confidential information from workers - most are bound by FIFA not to talk to the media - she did manage to get up close and personal with many staff, as well as visitors to the fan parks.
She also found that there were significant differences between the parks in terms of safety for children, cleanliness and facilities.
You can read her full report here.
]]>Disgruntled security guards for the 2020 FIFA World Cup have been replaced with South African Police Services (SAPS) staff in Cape Town (Green Point Stadium), Durban (Moses Mabhida) and Johannesburg (Soccer City and Ellis Park stadiums).
Security guards went on strike in Cape Town just before the clash between Italy and Paraguay on Monday night. Earlier in the day, Durban security staff held a protest at the Moses Mabhida Stadium over unpaid and low wages. They overturned dustbins and pelted police with rubbish before being dispersed by armed riot personnel using rubber bullets and tear gas.
"People before Profits"
Disputes have arisen over salaries to be paid to security staff over the World Cup period. The security arrangements were outsourced to private security companies. Some staff say they were promised R350 a day for being on duty, but were now working 12-hour days for between R125 to R135.
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) has tasked its provincial leaders to investigate the situation and find out what was needed to "defend members against exploitation".
Meanwhile on Wednesday, hours before Bafana Bafana were due to start their second World Cup match, striking stadium security guards joined a service delivery march by thousands of people in Durban.
The march was attended by shack dwellers and street vendors, as well as the security guards.
Marchers complained about the lack of service delivery and high electricity prices. They said the country should put people before profits, and demanded a "World Cup for all".
"Security not Affected"
Government spokesperson Themba Maseko said that strikes by Soccer World Cup security staff would not affect security at the world's biggest sporting event.
"An additional 44 000 policemen have been made available to make sure we can deal with any eventuality. Fans do not have anything to fear about the security arrangements for the matches," he said.
Read all about the Cost of the World Cup and how much the Winners get Paid.
]]>Workers in Pakistan, India, China and Thailand have been forced to work long hours for very low pay in unpleasant conditions, stitching soccer balls.
Some workers have had to work for 21 hours a day without a day off for an entire month, others work in venues where there is not enough proper drinking water, no medical care facilities and not even toilets. Gender discrimination is a further problem, with home-based females paid less and facing the threat of being fired if they become pregnant.
These and other findings have been released in a report titled report “Missed the Goal for Workers: the Reality of Soccer Ball Stitchers”, by US-based NGO International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF). The report reveals that workers stitching soccer balls in Pakistan, India, China and Thailand continue to experience alarming labour rights violations. The research also found that child labour still exists in the Pakistani industry as well as in India and China.
A Trade Union Fair organised around the theme of "Young Women Entering the World of Work" was held in Athlone, Western Cape on June 5.
The interactive event was designed to provide young women with space for discussion and to share information around career choices, and the opportunities and challenges entering the working world.
The Fair was been organised as part of the Decisions for Life campaign, which focuses on young women in the service sector - which includes the Retail, Call Centre, Hospitality and Secretarial/Clerical sectors. Young women had the opportunity to network, get information on work/life challenges, and to creatively engage with how to make decisions.
The four South African Trade Federations jointly organised the event - Cosatu, Fedusa, Nactu and Consawu.
The Decisions for Life campaign is an international campaign targeting young women in the service sector in South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazachstan and Ukraine. The campaign targets young working women between the ages of 15-29.
The aims of the campaign are to:
Mywage South Africa has launched its unique section of Minimum Wages across sectors for the South African wage earner. The comprehensive charts list all government gazetted Minimum Wages according to the Department of Labour, as well as featuring a list of Bargaining Council wages across sectors.
In this section, the user can find out how much Minimum Wages are in a variety of job positions, from domestic work to the engineering sector, from the taxi industry to security staff, and more. All the information is accurate and up-to-date. Most importantly, it is free and accessible!
Visit Minimum Wages and see the figures.
]]>Trade unionist, gender activist and spokesperson for young women workers, Tabisa Sigaba, passed away tragically over the Easter weekend. Tabisa, who was based in Johannesburg, was fatally injured in a car crash while visiting family in her hometown of Umtata in the Eastern Cape.
A fulltime shop steward in the JD group for SACCAWU, (South African Commerical, Catering and Allied Workers Union), Tabisa was an outspoken and passionate campaigner for young women workers. She believed in a future where the voices of young women would be heard, where their concerns would be noted, and where they would have the power to make choices in their workplaces, their homes and within their personal spheres.
Tabisa was also one of the young women leaders of the Decisions for Life campaign in South Africa. At a recent conference held for Decisions for Life in Maputo, Mozambique, Tabisa called for an international gathering of young women workers. Her proposal was noted by ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation) representative Marieke Koning, who pledged support for such a global conference.
It has since been cofirmed that the event will take place in May 2011, and in honour of Tabisa, will carry the name The Tabisa Young Women’s Conference.
Tabisa has been described as having "an intoxicating love for life", as being "young, talented and full of confidence", and a "strong woman who lit up a room when she entered." A gifted speaker, she had the power to deliver thought-provoking, moving and often rousing sentiments, always with style and assertiveness.
Her spirit, her activism, her passion and her immense joy for life are a great loss to the trade union movement - and to her family and friends.
Tabisa leaves behind a five-year-old daughter.
For more on Tabisa, click here.
The increase applies to those working in urban as well as non-urban areas. It is applicable from December 2009. Read more about Domestic Workers' Wages, Hours of Work, Leave and more.
]]>The increase applies to those working in urban as well as non-urban areas. It is applicable from December 2009. Read more about Domestic Workers' Wages, Hours of Work, Leave and more.
The show featured exhibitions focusing on women in food, fashion, travel, finance and community projects. There were live performances and presentations, ranging from martial arts displays to fashion shows to talks on wellness. The show also included a section on Natural and Organic Products, tying in with women's health.
Mywage/Meusalario hosted a stand at the show, where visitors were informed about the activities of Mywage, and directed to the websites, especially the unique tools associated with the organisation, such as the Salary Survey, Salary Check, Partner Check and Decent Work Check. Mywage/Meusalario staff were on hand to discuss the websites and answer questions surrounding the organisation, women and work and related issues. The show offered excellent networking and communication possibilities.
]]>
Community Safety MEC in the Western Cape, Lennit Max, has also come under fire for an alleged extra-marital affair - and several alleged cases of sexual harassment, claimed by female colleagues.
Commentators have been united around one issue, and that is concern for the portrayal of women in contemporary society. It would appear that to be "owned" in a polygamous marriage, to be a "mistress" in an affair or to be abused in the workplace are all seen as normal positions for women to occupy.
In this light, it is very important to know what constitutes sexual harassment, and what you can do about it if it occurs in the place where you work. Read more here.
The contribution to GDP includes government's expenditure on stadiums and infrastructure, as well as the money for sponsorships and commercial rights.
However, one area that is in desperate need of skilled professionals is IT. Many of the big projects aimed at meeting the needs of the World Cup event require highly specialised IT skills. However, many of these skilled individuals have taken advantage of the competitive global market and found work abroad.
It has been estimated that about 11500 IT professionals will be needed to sustain and implement the World Cup. In October last year, a tour to South Africa by a Fifa delegation found that many areas in the IT sector required improvement which would require specialised IT skills.
But whether the IT posts can be filled remains to be seen. Apart from skilled professionals leaving the country, there is also a need for financing and mentoring of IT students entering the field.
Dawie Krouwkamp, of the CTI Education Group, said 32 academic institutions offer IT qualifications in South Africa and produce about 3130 graduates each year.
However, there are not that many government bursary schemes and internships within the private sector for IT graduates. He said this was why companies were worried that not enough work-ready graduates with adequate skills were entering the industry.
"Graduates from leading colleges in South Africa remain a key resource for the industry going forward. Selective industry colleges offer more practical, shorter courses, without the entry-level requirements of universities, making it an accessible option for many prospective students," said Krouwkamp. "To address the skills shortage in the industry, we need to make a concerted, proactive effort to inspire and motivate graduates to stay in South Africa and further enhance our industry," he said.
(Source: The Times and Sake.24)
]]>
According to figures released in the Bargaining Indicators 2009 publication, brought out by the Labour Research Services, executive director salaries rose 11.6 percent on average, those of chief executive officers (CEOs) increased by on average 14 percent and nonexecutive directors saw their fees rise by 15 percent. The average low-wage worker saw an increase of 10.1 percent in 2008.
Author Michelle Taal, in her Directors' Fees Survey 2009, notes that in 2008 the average annual remuneration for an executive director was R6, 439, 000; chief executive officers received R10, 460, 000 and non-executive directors earned R522, 000. A low-wage worker would therefore have to work 16.5 years, 203 years and 330 years to earn what an average non-executive director, executive director and CEO respectively were paid in 2008.
The sample includes 71 companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) from 14 sectors, as well as one state-owned enterprise, Denel. The data has been extracted from the most recently published annual report and accounts as of 1 June 2009 and includes year ends from the end of February 2008 to the end of December 2008.
According to the latest reports, the financial services sector's contribution to the country's GDP in 2008 was 22%, the manufacturing sector's 19%, while government added 15%. Last year mining provided 9.5% - its biggest contribution since 1989, when it delivered 9.9%. Agriculture contributed 3.3%, making it the sector with the third-smallest contribution.
The fact that the manufacturing sector has been overtaken by the financial services sector was a positive move, says the SAIRR, which indicates that the country has become a mature economy.
Mywage South Africa supports the Decisions for Life project, which places great importance on young women being able to make clear, informed choices concerning their lives, their careers and their futures. To this end, the website offers a range of free and informative articles on getting a work-life balance, looking at job options, and being clear about rights in the workplace, all aimed at women.
Employment Options
There are several employment options that do not require school-leavers to study first, but will offer on-the-job training. This includes a Career in a Call Centre, a Career in Retail, and a Career as Hotel Receptionist or Housekeeper. But if one does decide to study further, jobs in the IT Sector, the Tourism Sector, as well as Bookkeeping and Secretarial options, are all good choices, especially for young women.
Fair Play
For those who do enter the marketplace, Mywage also offers the chance to see whether work conditions are fair and acceptable. The Decent Work Check looks at all aspects of employment, from leave to working hours and more. And for those who are considering sharing their lives with someone special, while holding down a job, take our Partner Check to see if you are making the right choice! It's fun and lighthearted - but it does also make you stop and think about the consequences of achieving a fair work-life balance - or not.
Important presentations and discussions around issues such as climate change, the global economic crisis and gender wage gaps received critical attention, while topics such as the emergence of support for domestic workers, organising amongst informal workers, and the quest to appoint more young women into the ranks of leadership within trade unions, were universally supported.
Speakers ranged from ministerial representatives to trade union officials, domestic workers to young unionists, while debates on and off the conference floor covered a wide range of issues that affect women in specific ways.
Diana Holland, Chair of the ITUC Women's Committee, said it the conference was especially successful because "women from around the world realised that they are not alone, they face the same problems together". The main points she considered were very important to have covered were on young women trade unionists, domestic workers and informal workers, as well as working towards a resolution concerning violence against women.
Buyelwa Sonjica, South African Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, who addressed the conference, said she was delighted that climate change was accorded such importance on the agenda of the 1st World Women Conference. "It is so important to highlight the role of women in relation to climate change. Climate change threatens fundamental aspects of life, from access to fresh water to food production. Women, particularly those from developing countries, are at the coalface of poverty, and are most adversely affected by the negative spin-offs of climate change," she said.
Marieke Koning, Equality Officer for ITUC, who has been integral in arranging the conference, said it had been "fantastic!"
"This has been a dynamic and very action-orientated conference," she said. "We focused on critical issues, and we have come away with a clear set of action plans for the future, covering the topics we set out to discuss in our agenda under the heading 'Decent Work - Decent Life for Women: Trade Unions Taking the Lead for Economic and Social Justice and Equality'."
Do you have decent work? Take our Decent Work Check to see. And for more details on the conference click here.
]]>
The loss of union members has been evidenced across sectors and unions. The Confederation of SA Workers’ Unions (Consawu), which has 22 affiliated unions, was down 80 000 members. The Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa), which represents 20 affiliate unions and had 405 000 members at its last audit in December 2008, reckons they have lost around 25 000 members due to retrenchments. The National Council of Trade Unions (Nactu) has estimated a loss of around 15 000 members. The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) is down by 60 000 members.
The decrease in membership of trade unions is causing unions to look at alternative ways of recruiting new members, including the possibility of signing up workers who are employed through brokers.
Does your workplace match up to decent work standards? Are you protected and secure in your job? Take our Decent Work Check to see.
Earlier this year, South Africa's deputy president, Kgalema Motlanthe, said that the country's preparations for the World Cup have helped to create numerous job opportunities for the unemployed. He said that South Africa's hosting of the World Cup has "made the government improve on infrastructure, including road networks”.
Construction of stadia has made a significant contribution to the growth of employment and training. For example, the new Green Point Stadium in Cape Town is creating thousands of new jobs, with a positive spin-off for the city's economy.
According to a special report prepared for the FIFA Council, 2,143 on-site jobs have been created to construct the stadium, and 1,179 artisans have received training. This will stand them in good stead even after the stadium is complete.
There is also significant Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and Small, Micro and Medium Enterprise (SMME) involvement from local companies, with 57 percent of procurement on the stadium having been sourced from BEE companies, and 65 percent from SMME's.
As part of a broad-based BEE programme, the contractor has established an on-site training centre to develop the skills and abilities of all employees, to enhance their performance and help to advance their careers within the industry.
An added incentive for the construction workers is that they will each receive two free World Cup tickets, courtesy of FIFA and the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa.
The 68 000-seater stadium, which will host eight games during the World Cup, is on track for completion in December 2009.
Overall, almost 90 percent of South Africans are convinced the country will host a successful World Cup, according to a recent confidence poll by FIFA. Those surveyed said the country was ready and "more than able" to deliver a successful tournament.
We have the inside track on what salaries football players earn! And if you want to watch the matches during the World Cup, better find out about taking leave.
The Gini coefficient index shows the level of income inequality. Within the index, a value of one reflects complete inequality while a value of zero reflects complete equality. A value above 0.5 is “unacceptably high”. In comparison, World Bank figures for 2007/8 put Brazil at 0.57, Bolivia at 0.601 and Botswana at 0.605.
In figures, the difference between high wage earners and workers’ salaries in South Africa can often be immense – according to the 2008 Bargaining Indicators report released by the Labour Research Service, CEOs of large companies on average earned 298 times more than an ordinary worker. Put another way – it would take that low wage worker more than six lifetimes to earn what a CEO earns in one year in South Africa.
Use our free Salary Check to see if you are earning a fair and market-related salary. And to make sure our data is accurate, take time to fill out our confidential Salary Survey.
]]>
The QES breaks down the job losses according to sectors. It shows that employment in the manufacturing sector fell by 6.3% to 1.2 million people. This loss of 14 000 jobs was mainly in the wood products, paper, printing, base metals production and fabricated metal sectors. In the construction sector, employment fell by 4.9%; in wholesale and retail trade it fell by 3.6%; in the financial, real estate and business sectors it fell 4.2% and in the transport sector it dropped by 1.9%.
This year the South African government provided an employment “cushion”, creating 82 000 jobs in the months from January until June 2009. If not for this, the amount of jobs lost would have been eveon more pronounced.
As it stands, those who have lost jobs face a difficult task in finding employment, as most sectors have shrunk. Although the pace of job losses is reportedly slowing, it is not being balanced by the creation of new jobs at this point.
Out of a job? Get ahead of the queue with our handy tips for Finding Work.
]]>Eight Southern African websites of the WageIndicator project were officially launched on Thursday 17 September, 2009. Simultaneously the website in South Africa, known as Mywage, got an upgraded salary check, making it much more attractive for visitors to check their wages. The target for the southern African websites is to reach half a million visitors in one year's time. Local teams make sure that the their sites feature information specific for audiences in each country. Known as Mywage in South Africa,Namibia,Botswana,Zimbabwe,Zambia andMalawi, and Meusalario in Angola and Mocambique, the websites feature unique content about wages, working conditions, labour standards and other work-related topics. There is a strong gender emphasis in much of the content. Significantly, each site also hosts various web tools which provide information on occupation-specific wages, as well as checks relating to work/partner balance, minimum wages and the current economic crisis. “There is a definite need for this sort of information in my country. We look at what people want to know, in relation to the workplace, and we supply it,” says Sanday Chongo Kabange, Web Manager of Mywage Zambia. “We go out and speak to people, and we follow what is happening in the labour market.”
]]>