By Luisa van der Linde Introduction Workplace safety measures are non-negotiable. It is not only the responsibility of the management team or safety committee to be safety conscious. The onus is also on artisans to correctly apply safety measures to ensure their own safety and that of colleagues.   Acts In South Africa there are two Acts that govern safety in the workplace. The first is the Mine Health and Safety Act, No 29 of 1996, that governs safety in mines, and the other is the Occupational Health and Safety Act, No 85 of 1993, that has applied in South
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By Elzet Bester Sol-Tech is building a brand-new campus and it intends to send 2 500 students per year into the workplace. This is a wonderful development for trade careers and will give young people an opportunity to be the best in their jobs. Moreover, it will offer Afrikaans-speaking young people training in their mother tongue. The question this article wants to ask though, is how many of the 2 500 will be females? What is the role of women in trade careers? Why is it important for women to pursue a trade? According to Trudi van Wyk of the Department of
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By Reon Janse van Rensburg A survey conducted by Deloitte during its 2019 Deloitte Millennial Survey, showed that millennials in South Africa (working and unemployed) believe that the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) will make it more difficult to find jobs in the future. The report which was released for the eighth time, consists of the opinions of 13 416 millennials from 42 countries, including 300 from South Africa. Millennials who participated in the study, was born between Januarie 1983 and December 1994. According to Tumelo Seaketso, Director of Human Capital at Deloitte, millenials’ perspectives and opinions on the 4IR and work
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By Mia Slabbert Solidarity’s vocational training institution Sol-Tech boasts one of only a handful of Master Artisans still remaining in South Africa. Leon van Wyk has been involved in the training of apprentices since 1989 and was a training officer at Eskom’s training college for 16 years. “In 2007 I was appointed at Sol-Tech, which had only four staff members at that stage. It was my responsibility to establish Sol-Tech’s mechanical training, and it was an unbelievable challenge. I really enjoyed my passion for training and eventually I was responsible for the first group of mechanical apprentices who qualified through
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In February this year, Solidarity presented Eskom with a list of experienced and skilled persons who can help the electricity giant to make a turnaround. This list was also presented to Pravin Gordhan, Minister of Public Enterprises. Unfortunately, not one of the 480 experts’ offers were accepted. This follow Gordhan recently complaining in parliament about the skills shortage at the electricity giant. The selected experts on the list include project managers, engineers, artisans, technicians, technologists and financial managers who all made their services available. However, Eskom denies receiving such a list. Solidarity believes that affirmative action is just as present
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A dispute about the extension of the MEIBC administrator’s term arose and was brought before the Labor Court. Employers’ organisations NEASA, SAEFA and PCASA are opposing Solidarity, which initiated the appointment of an Administrator to save the MEIBC from financial ruin, are opposing Solidarity insofar as an extension of the administrator’s term is concerned. The extension of the administrator’s term by another six to twelve months is crucial for the survival of the MEIBC, as the bargaining council is not yet in a solvent position, and many important aspects of the rehabilitation plan are still outstanding. Solidarity’s application enjoys the
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