26-JUL-10·	Department of Labour boost unemployed youth
	Posted by | mdladlana
	In its quest to curb unemployment and reduce the number of workseekers the Gauteng Department of Labour funded the Public Lighting Project where 48 unemployed people sourced from Department of Labour’s database of work seekers completed various electrical courses and were placed in 12 depots of City of Tshwane upon completion of their training.

15-APR-10·	Mdladlana takes social dialogue to global arena
	Posted by | mdladlana
	South Africa’s labour market trump card – social dialogue – is to be placed on the international stage when Labour Minister, Membathisi Mdladlana, addresses the all-important G-20 summit of his counterparts in Washington D.C. South Africa has been hailed as a paragon of tripartism with Nedlac being repeatedly praised by eminent persons, among them Pascal Lamy, director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

09-JUL-09·	Mdladlana hopeful of quick solution to strike
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana is hopeful that a solution to the wage dispute which has halted construction work at 2010 FIFA World Cup stadiums will be found soon. However after a late night of negotiations on Thursday there was still no agreement by Friday morning and the strike continues

16-FEB-09·	Labour appoints National Chief Inspector
	Posted by | mdladlana
	A National Chief Inspector has been appointed in the Department of Labour to beef up labour law enforcement in all business sectors and workplaces. The role will include responsibility for coordinating and professionalizing the labour law inspectorate to ensure an increase in inspection visibility.

08-DEC-08·	Mdladlana plans to ban labour brokers
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Trade union federation Cosatu has come out in support of comments by Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana on plans to ban labour brokers. Mdladlana was campaigning in Langa when he told residents that the ban would be implemented if the ANC wins the next election.

17-SEP-08·	Manyi says racism still reigns supreme
	Posted by | mdladlana
	"More than ten years into our democracy, institutional racism continues to reign supreme," says Jimmy Manyi, head of the Commission for Employment Equity. "The only difference is that previously it was more overt, but now it has assumed sophisticated forms in day-to-day work practices," Manyi added, as he handed the latest annual report from the Commission to the Minister of Labour.

03-AUG-08·	SA must protect the rights of women
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has urged South Africans to play an increasing role in protecting the rights of women in the workplace. The month of August has been declared Women’s Month, to recognise the contributions women have made to South Africa's democracy.

21-JUL-08·	UIF registered a staggering R27 billon
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) registered a staggering amount of R27 823 billion at the end of March this year, says Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana. “This figure shows a massive growth from the R7.031 billion reported in April 2004. When I came in 1998, the fund was technically bankrupt," explained Mdladlana.

27-JUN-08·	It was no tirade, says Mdladlana
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana took the opportunity of his speech to the Annual Labour Law Conference to defend himself against allegations that he had made racist comments about Chinese South Africans. “I am not a racist," he declared while re-commiting himself to defending worker rights, no matter who the employer was.

26-JUN-08·	Chinese business leaders expected to cooperate with SA laws
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana said he trusted that members of South Africa's Chinese community would be more compliant with the country's labour legislation now that a court ruling had rendered them as “coloureds”.

20-FEB-08·	Legal status of R1,6bn fund to be finalised soon
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The legal status of the National Skills Fund has been under review for a number of years and this should be clarified by the Skills Development Amendment Act which is nearing completion. The NSF receices more than R1,6billion currently and this is projected to pass R2 billion per annum by 2010.

07-FEB-08·	China's experts on experience-sharing visit to SA
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Skills experts from China could be heading for South Africa in the near future following a formal call by Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana on that country to lend a helping hand. The minister was speaking after a meeting with a Chinese delegation that is visiting South Africa.

31-JAN-08·	Chinese Minister visits local skills programmes
	Posted by | mdladlana
	South Africa's trade relations with China will be further boosted, with artisan skills training and job creation dominating discussions when Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana hosts his Chinese counterpart Tian Chengpin.

21-NOV-07·	Mdladlana praises Mkosana's work
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Director-General (DG), Vanguard Mkosana's contract comes to an end on 30 November 2007, the Ministry has announced. Dr Mkosana has served in this position since 2004. Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana today praised the outgoing Director-General for the sterling work he has done during his term.

30-OCT-07·	Trevor Manuel eyes Seta cash
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has expressed concern about the funds held in reserve by Setas. Presenting his 'mini-budget' in parliament, Manuel highlighted the R3,7 billion cash reserves held by Setas and issued a veiled threat that the money could be used elsewhere.

30-OCT-07·	Creative industry stakeholders to discuss involvement with Seta
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The media Seta, Mappp, has been placed under administration and procedures will be put in place to develop a new constitution for the training authority. Members of the creative industries will be meeting on the 8th November to discuss the best way for them to work with the Seta in the future.

11-OCT-07·	Mappp stakeholders reassured
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Department of Labour and PricewaterhouseCoopers have issued a statement to reassure stakeholders in the media and printing sector that the business of the Mappp Seta will continue. This week the board and constition of the Seta was suspended and an administrator appointed.

09-OCT-07·	Bernard-Fryer welcomes move against Seta board
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Former CEO of the Mappp Seta, Melanie Bernard-Fryer has welcomed the decision of the Minister of Labour to suspend the operation of the Seta board. “I welcome this vindication of my efforts to institute an forensic audit of the Seta - which lead to my unlawful dismissal," she tells the Skills Portal.

09-OCT-07·	Minister suspends Seta and appoints administrator
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Minister of Labour has suspended the board and constitution of the media Seta, (Mappp) and appointed an administrator to take over the functions of the training authority.

24-SEP-07·	Scarce Skills: Defining 'scarce' and 'critical' skills
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Know the difference between Scarce and Critical skills? And the difference between Relative and Absolute scarcity? The Minister of Labour helps us to define these concepts and debunk some of the myths around skills shortages.

20-SEP-07·	Mdladlana has high hopes for new Quality Council for Occupations & Trades
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has expressed confidence that the proposed Quality Council for Occupations and Trades will be effective in recognizing learning taking place in the work place. He has called on universities to work with the new council to ensure that the new system works more effectively than in the past.

18-SEP-07·	Joy and celebration as rural schools receive computers
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The learning process is set to change forever for pupils of two rural Ntabankulu schools in the former Transkei after they were presented with 40 computers by Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana. He urged the pupils and staff of Ntsikayezwe and Ntabankulu Senior Secondary Schools to make full use of the units to improve their studies.

18-SEP-07·	Minister to visit Sheltered Employment Factories
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana is expected to visit Sheltered Employment Factories (SEF), charged with providing short to long-term jobs to people with disabilities. The SEFs were created 60 years ago to provide employment to disabled people who may have had difficulties finding work in the open market.

29-AUG-07·	Setas to train 20 000 artisans through new Trades Council
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Draft service level agreements are being submitted to the Setas proposing a total target of 20 000 priority scarce-skill-artisans to receive training next year. A draft Skills Development Amendment Bill has also been prepared to ensure the quality of skills development through the establishment of the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO).

14-AUG-07·	Too much reliance on foreign skills not good for growing economy
	Posted by | mdladlana
	South Africans should invest heavily in the training of their own people in skills most needed for the country's growing economy, Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana said. The Minister made these remarks while visiting the Fluor Training Centre in Secunda, Mpumalanga where he inspected artisanship equipment at one of the country's long-standing training facilities.

09-AUG-07·	SA’s labour laws 'empower women'
	Posted by | mdladlana
	South Africa’s labour laws are in line with the empowerment of women, says Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana. In a Women’s Day statement, the minister said the improved wage and working conditions for domestic workers were contributing immensely to the total emancipation of South African women.

31-JUL-07·	Setas not under threat - Mdladlana
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has assured the training sector that Setas will still be around until 2010. The training authorities have a mandate until the current National Skills Development Strategy expires in 2010. Accepting that there may be some changes, Mdladlana denied reports of the dissolution of Setas.

05-JUL-07·	Employment Equity 'is inevitable'
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana attacked critics of the Employment Equity act, and announced that it's implementation was "inevitable'. He was also quick to emphasise the role of business as key stakeholders in the process.

30-MAY-07·	Africa Group goes to the ballot for ILC Presidency
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana will preside over the election of the President for the 96th International Labour Conference in Geneva. It’s Africa’s turn to chair the ILO Conference but African government delegates failed to reach a consensus, ahead of the conference, on which country should preside.

30-MAY-07·	3 000 delegates gather in Geneva for annual labour conference
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The 96th session of the International Labour Conference started off on an unusual note in Geneva, without a president. The African Government Group failed to reach a consensus on Congo’s candidacy, resulting in South Africa as Chairperson of the Governing Body to chair the Conference on an interim basis, until the election a president has been finalised.

22-MAY-07·	Aspirant carpenters get bursaries worth R10 000
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Ten aspiring carpenters have each received a R10 000 bursary to study carpentry and to learn how to set up their own businesses. The ten students, who are unemployed, will undergo six weeks of free training at the Furniture Technology Centre (Furntech) in White River, Mpumalanga.

16-MAY-07·	Minister says Artisan, Apprentice development central to Asgisa success
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Artisan development remains a vital cog if the government's skills revolution in the form of Asgisa was to be accomplished, Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has said. His department was set to "turn the tide" in the delivery of artisans and other technical skills, and the organised labour and employers in both the private and public sectors were to join the government in this process.

15-MAY-07·	Minister wants ‘fewer but better’ Setas
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has committed to continuing the Seta system, in the face of criticism of the training bodies from opposition politicians, but he certainly hasn’t ruled out changes. Although no formal decisions have been taken, Mdladlana has said that he is generally in favour of a system with fewer Setas.

01-MAY-07·	Workers’ Day is no ordinary holiday - Mdladlana
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Workers’ Day is a day to celebrate workers’ achievements and remember the value of workers’ rights, says Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana. “The day serves as beacon of hope that never again will these basic rights be rolled back - and remembers those of our countrymen and women who are yet to enjoy these basic rights."

18-APR-07·	Singapore president’s visit to revitalise ties with SA
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Singaporean President Sellapan Ramanathan’s upcoming visit to South Africa, marks a clear resurgence of interest in bilateral relations between the two nations. This is a historic occasion, as it will be the first state visit to South Africa, by a Singaporean head of state. President Mbeki’s delegation will include Ministers Mosioua Lekota (defence), Membathisi Mdladlana (labour), Ronnie Kasrils (intelligence).

04-APR-07·	China a role model for SA business
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Businesses in South Africa should look up to China for lessons in developing the country’s economy. Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has urged Business South Africa (Busa) to establish contact with their Chinese counterparts. The minister was speaking at a meeting with the employer organisation, the China Enterprise Confederation in Beijing.

01-APR-07·	Mdladlana visits China to cement ties
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana is to visit the People’s Republic of China at the end of the 298th session of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) governing body meeting in Geneva. Minister Mdladlana will be hosted by his counterpart Minister of Labour and Social Security, Tian Chengping.

14-MAR-07·	ILO to scrutinise workers rights
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Workers' rights are set to dominate the meeting of the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Governing Body in Geneva, Switzerland which ends on March 30. The meeting, started with a series of reports scrutinised by Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana, as the new Chairperson of the ILO governing body, and his team.

11-MAR-07·	Labour Minister's early morning blitz surprises cape contractor
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Employers in the construction industry have been warned to step up their management of sub-contractors to protect their image. Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana sounded the warning during a blitz inspection at the Berg Water Project in Franschhoek in the Western Cape. He noted that contraventions of occupational health and safety regulations in the sector were largely caused by sub-contractors, who were giving the companies and the country at large a bad image.

11-MAR-07·	Eastern Cape construction crackdown exposes rot
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Disregard of workplace safety measures continues to prove a trend as Labour Inspectors embark on surprise inspections in the construction sector around the country. This is what the Labour Department inspectorate discovered in four Eastern Cape towns.

28-FEB-07·	Department of Labour investigates injury of workers
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Department of Labour is investigating an incident at the QK Meats in Johannesburg which left 11 people injured while on duty at the weekend. The incident prompted the department to issue a prohibition notice to the Management of QK Meats, barring it from using its cold storage facility until it met the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and other relevant regulations.

28-FEB-07·	Labour Minister reserves judgment on Teta finances – for now
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has not commented publicly on the Teta/Fidentia investment scandal until the meets the organisation to hear their case. However he has made it clear that he want to hear from the board of the organisation, not the CEO.

23-FEB-07·	Accelerated Skills Drive To Top Discussions With Algeria
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Skills empowerment and vocational training – the key components of the government’s job creation drive – will top discussions when Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana, his Algerian counterpart Tayeb Louh and their respective delegations meet in Cape Town.

21-FEB-07·	SA, Namibia join hands to improve workplace conditions
	Posted by | mdladlana
	South Africa and Namibia will embark in a joint-venture to improve the workplace conditions for workers. Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana said the two countries would ensure that labour relations in both countries were harmonised for the purposes of addressing the violation of worker rights by multi-nationals.

16-FEB-07·	Spotlight falls on the Informal Economy at ARLAC meeting in Zimbabwe
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Ministers in African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC) member-countries have pledged to promote productivity and sustainable development in the informal economy. The committment came at the end of a high level symposium held at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe which was also attended by South Africa's Labour Minister, Membathisi Mdladlana.

14-FEB-07·	Labour Dept investigates Seta investment activites
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Department of Labour has announced that a workshop has been scheduled to investigate the investment activites of all Setas. The meeting is in response to the debacle that has beset the Transport Seta, which invested R245 million with Fidentia Assest Management. Director General of the Department, Dr Vanguard Mkosana said this week that the controversy, "has been an eye opener for us".

08-FEB-07·	Employer fined R50 000 or imprisonment for risking worker's life
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has welcomed the Odendaalsrus Magistrate Court ruling, against an employer who violated the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) regulations. The employer was sentenced to pay a fine of R50 000 or 12 months imprisonment for exposing his employees to unsafe working conditions.

08-FEB-07·	Poaching of staff still causing problems for DoL
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Department of Labour was putting its house in order following successive qualified reports by the Auditor-General over the past few years, Director-General Vanguard Mkosana told Parliament. Addressing the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) Doctor Mkosana explained that the high staff turn-over was due to the rampant poaching of highly skilled officials.

05-FEB-07·	Be on the look out for fraudsters
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Department of Labour has warned service providers to be on the look out for a crime syndicate operating in the Free State, and scrutinise orders to determine their authenticity. This is in the wake of the incident where 60 laptop computers and 300 hard drives were ordered to the Thaba Nchu labour centre by an 'official,' Jonathan Banda, who claimed to be working for the Department of Labour.

01-FEB-07·	Pretoria domestics in focus as labour inspectors check compliance
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The level of compliance in the domestic sector in Pretoria and surrounding areas will fall under the sharp focus of labour inspectors as they will be clamping down on violators of laws governing the sector.

23-JAN-07·	Mdladlana joins local chief to celebrate skills progamme successes
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The coming weekend will be a special one for the rural Mamone community of Limpopo as they will be celebrating the success of a skills empowerment drive that has seen 390 of them obtain valuable business and agriculture-related skills. Minister Membathisi Mdladlana will be the guest of the Mamone Tribal Authority at the celebration.

19-JAN-07·	Mdladlana calls for speedy resolution on USB security strike
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has called on both the USB security guards and their employer to find a speedy solution to their differences. "We urge both parties to make use of all legal mechanisms at their disposal to ensure the dispute does not go out of hand, and that a solution is found as quickly as possible to avoid the regrettable scenes similar to those that marred last year’s dispute,” the Minister said.

22-NOV-06·	Minister to tighten noose on employment equity violators
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The new year is set to see a more intensified fight against employment equity violators, Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has said. “The issue of employment equity violation is going to be my project next year,” he said, adding that employment equity reports indicated that 11 years into democracy, there had been little change to equity profiles in management.

15-NOV-06·	Mdladlana plays Santa with R1bn for skills development
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Minister of Labour will be distributing nearly R1 billion from the National Skills Fund for skills projects in all nine provinces, at a ceremony to be held in the Eastern Cape. The projects aim to help provide various critical and scarce skills to about 360 000 South African rural youths between 2007 and 2009.

07-NOV-06·	CCMA celebrates 10th anniversary
	Posted by | mdladlana
	South Africa’s workers and employers will celebrate improved relationships when the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) marks its 10th anniversary on 11 November. The CCMA was one of the first major organisations established by the new government after it took power in 1994, to promote social justice and equality in the workplace.

31-OCT-06·	Mdladlana calls for safety in the work place
	Posted by | mdladlana
	“Occupational Health and Safety in the work place is an important aspect of business and cannot be dealt with in isolation. We must improve all our efforts to save human life in the workplace,” said Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana, addressing a two-day conference on workplace safety.

25-OCT-06·	Mdladlana to sign agreement with Lesotho govt
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana is expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with his Lesotho counterpart Mpeo Mahase-Moiloa in Maseru on Monday, which he believes will strengthen South Africa's role as a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

18-OCT-06·	Bad news for companies contravening equity laws
	Posted by | mdladlana
	"Tough times lie ahead for companies failing to abide by the Employment Equity Act", according to Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana. "I have instructed my officials in all provinces to follow up with companies that have not submitted their equity reports and I will never apologise for this," he said.

13-OCT-06·	Mdladlana announces review of Seta structures
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has announced a review of the structure of Setas and the way they are governed. Reflecting on discussions at ministerial meetings, Mdladlana expressed his feeling that the original policy of setting up 25 Setas with independent boards was a mistake. Mdladlana called for interested parties to give input on how Setas can be improved to truly become ‘organs of people’s power’.

12-OCT-06·	Mdladlana wants to learn from Chinese example
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has called on South Africans to learn from the economic success that China has achieved. Speaking at the signing of an agreement between labour ministries in the two countries, Mdladlana emphasised that China had decided to take part in the international economy on its own terms and managed to achieve this under the banner of a socialist state.

27-SEP-06·	Successful Seta on track to reach targets
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Hailed by Minister Membathisi Mdladlana as a "Seta success,", Fasset is beginning to enjoy the fruits of many projects it has supported over the past six years, as it reaches NSDS II targets in its first year of delivery.

13-SEP-06·	Speech given by Labour Minister at EE launch
	Posted by | mdladlana
	'Throwing the cat among the pigeons' hardly seems to encompass the controversy emanating from the Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana's speech at the launch of the 6th Commission for Employment Equity Annual Report. We have the speech in full.

13-SEP-06·	Has your company been shamed by the Labour Dept?
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Controversy surrounds the list of more than 1200 companies that the Department of Labour claim have not submitted Employment Equity reports as required under the Act. However many of those names have hit back claiming that they have submitted the required reports - and some have the receipts to prove it! Download the full list here.

11-SEP-06·	Mdladlana hopes to stop companies dragging feet on EE
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister, Membathisi Mdladlana, has, for the first time, named six top large companies that have failed to implement the Employment Equity Act. “The fact that we have mentioned certain companies is a major step to achieve compliance. We have taken a deliberate step to name and shame those that drag their feet," Mdladlana said.

23-AUG-06·	Mdladlana ring-fences NSF money for the poor
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana, addressing the ADvTECH Learnership graduation ceremony, has cautioned against a sense of entitlement to funding from the National Skills Fund. Confirming that R1.3 billion was spent on Seta strategic projects under NSDS I, Mdladlana stated that NSF funding was to benefit the poor and Setas would only have access to these funds to benefit this group.

23-AUG-06·	Mdladlana to open Zimbabwe border crossing centre
	Posted by | mdladlana
	In a move to curb illegal migration, the abuse of labour laws and rampant crime, South Africa and Zimbabwe will officially open an office at the Beit Bridge border. The office, a first of its kind in Africa, is set to help Zimbabweans seeking employment in South Africa with legal documents. Illegal Zimbabweans who are repatriated on a weekly basis from South Africa will also be received at the office.

23-AUG-06·	Efficiency experts to impart skills in SA
	Posted by | mdladlana
	South Africa will be hosting productivity experts over the next two months, to impart skills on productivity which can lead to economic development, job creation and poverty alleviation. Lined up is a four-day roundtable conference of the NPI, the Pan African Productivity Association and the Asian Productivity Organisation.

09-AUG-06·	Mdladlana interviews for Compensation Fund boss
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has set aside a whole week to interview candidates for the post of Compensation Fund head which he hopes will go a long way towards bringing stability and focus in the workings of the organisation. The Minister will be looking to appoint a highly competent and capable person to drive the Fund’s turnaround strategy.

09-AUG-06·	Mdladlana calls for more money for skills fund
	Posted by | mdladlana
	While requests to the National Skills Fund for money to support skills development projects are likely to rise significantly, the Labour Minister says that the demands of small businesses cannot be addressed with current funds. He is concerned that the this key employment-generating sector will suffer unless an alternative source of funding can be found.

09-AUG-06·	Labour Department nominated as Top 300 company
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Department of Labour is very proud to have been nominated to appear in the Top 300 companies directory, to appear later this year. Publisher Richard Fletcher has written to the Minister of Labour explaining that the Department was selected, “due to your record of performance excellence over the past year”.

19-JUL-06·	Department of Labour saves R23 million in bank charges
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Department of Labour is hailing a government-business partnership to bring secure payment solutions for Unemployment Insurance Fund beneficiaries as a resounding success. The new system has allowed the Department to save R33 million this year in bank charges.

19-JUL-06·	Labour Dept HIV/AIDS prevalence at 12%
	Posted by | mdladlana
	At an annual evaluation meeting this week, Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana announced that an HIV prevalence study had found that 12% of his Department's staff were HIV positive. He called on staff members to use condoms as one means to ensure the number of infected personnel does not increase.

12-JUL-06·	Trade unions and employer bodies de-registered
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Bogus trade unions and employer organisations official records at the Department of Labour show that many unions and employer organisations are not in good standing as far as registration procedures and legal requirements expected from bona fide organisations are concerned.

28-JUN-06·	High level debate on changes to labour legislation continues
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Employment creation and poverty eradication could not be exclusively limited to the labour market and therefore deserve dedicated attention and intervention by all stakeholders, Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has said at the resumption of the roundtable discussions on possible changes to labour legislation.

15-JUN-06·	Road freight workers protest outside Mdladlana’s office
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Road freight workers have taken to the streets, accusing the Labour department of failing to intervene and implement a wage agreement signed between them and their employers.

14-JUN-06·	Mdladlana to head international labour body
	Posted by | mdladlana
	South Africa’s Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has been unanimously elected as the new governing body chairperson of the United Nations affiliated International Labour Organisation (ILO).

14-JUN-06·	ILO should play pro-active role: Minister Mdladlana
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The International Labour Organisation (ILO) cannot remain uncommitted in a world in which, for many workers, life at work still presents a serious deficit said Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana during the 95th Session of the ILO Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

14-JUN-06·	Labour Minister leads delegation to ILO discussions in Geneva
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister, Membathisi Mdladlana is leading a delegation representing all the social partners to the International Labour Organisation conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

17-MAY-06·	Labour Dept projects impact on skills development
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Parliament heard details of a range of training programmes run across the country by the Department of Labour. According to the Minister of Labour the interventions were successfully completed and most participants were subsequently placed in employment. He also announced a new subsistence allowance for learners on Department schemes.

17-MAY-06·	Mdladlana criticizes FET Colleges’ lack of practical training
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has called on FET Colleges, and private providers of artisan training, to ensure that they include sufficient practical training in their courses and don’t’ rely too heavily on the theoretical.

10-MAY-06·	Compensation Fund busts fraud syndicate
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Compensation Fund’s efforts at stamping out corruption and fraud are gaining momentum and in the latest incident, a syndicate that has been intercepting compensation cheques has been busted in Pretoria.

09-MAY-06·	Plans to reduce work-related fatalities on farms
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Minister of Labour spent World Day for Health and Safety at Work in Limpopo where he officially launched a project that will train farm workers to identify hazards as part of a plan to reduce the number of work-related fatalities.

08-MAY-06·	Parties should be compelled to go to the CCMA
	Posted by | mdladlana
	I think parties should be compeled to go to the CCMA. More especially if situation is terrifying like this one, innocent people thrown out of the train windows etc.

05-MAY-06·	Mdladlana slams security employers
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The sudden decision by security industry employers to shun the scheduled talks with Satawu under the auspices of the CCMA as agreed earlier is a matter of grave concern, Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has said.

03-MAY-06·	Mdladlana lambasts security industry employers
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has expressed concern at what he called “arrogance” by employers in the security industry who, he believes are standing by while the on-going strike causes harm to ordinary South Africans.

03-MAY-06·	African Union urge social partnerships as vital to work environment
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Sound working relations between governments and their social partners remained the cornerstone of high standards for any country, according to Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana. He spoke during his address of the African Union’s (AU) Labour and Social Affairs Commission in Cairo, Egypt.

28-APR-06·	Minister Mdladlana’s May Day message
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has urged workers and employers to preserve the significance of the world-wide May Day workers celebrations. In his May Day message Mdladlana said it was important for everyone to think of those who were still denied basic worker rights.

25-APR-06·	Mdladlana: Employers and Satawu hold key to ending violent strike
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Employers and the striking workers in the security industry were the only ones capable of bringing the ongoing violent dispute to an amicable end, Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has reiterated. He has also called on Satawu to stop their members from assaulting non-striking workers.

19-APR-06·	Mdladlana defends Setas from SME attacks
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Minister of Labour has defended Setas from complaints that they are no longer assisting SMEs who are not contributing to the Skills Development Levy. However he also claimed that “some Setas are cheaters” and chasing targets without ensuring that they meet the needs of learners and employers.

19-APR-06·	CCMA not for the rich says Mdladlana
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Addressing a community meeting in Atlantis, Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has called on wealthy employees with a grievance against their employer to use the Labour Court and not clog up the CCMA.

19-APR-06·	Fishing company bosses shun Mdladlana
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana fulfilled a prearranged appointment to visit the premises of Sea Harvest in Saldanha Bay. He was greeted by large groups of toi-toi-ing workers but no management.

19-APR-06·	Mdladlana criticises security strike violence
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has called on security guards to strengthen their unions so that they can form a bargaining council for the sector. He also criticised violence that has accompanied the industrial action.

19-APR-06·	Restructuring for the Compensation Fund
	Posted by | mdladlana
	In a bold move aimed at putting the Compensation Fund back on track, Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has once again announced a major restructuring of the Fund, which will include among other things an appointment of the new Commissioner.

19-APR-06·	Watershed judgment expected against equity flouting employers
	Posted by | mdladlana
	“Employment equity is not about to be scrapped and it is time we live with that fact,” says Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana, speaking ahead of a judgement in the Durban Labour Court on two KZN companies believed to have flouted the Employment Equity Act.

11-APR-06·	Mdladlana promises action at Compensation Fund
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana has responded to the request from the DA for an investigation into the Compensation Fund’s inefficiency by saying he ordered such a probe more than a year ago.

11-APR-06·	Violence at security guard protests criticised
	Posted by | mdladlana
	“It is quite disturbing to note that some people will not hesitate to use violence to push their viewpoint despite all the dispute resolution mechanisms at their disposal," says the Minister of Labour.

05-APR-06·	Labour market flexibility debate set for kick-off
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The long awaited discussions on the labour market flexibility will kick off on a high note when Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana tables the matter for debate with social partners in Gauteng.

29-MAR-06·	Mdladlana condemns violence by striking security guards
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has condemned the violence that marked the national wage strike by private security guards, telling the strikers that violence would only harden attitudes and jeopardise any chances of a speedy solution to the dispute.

15-MAR-06·	Mdladlana lashes out at IT contractor
	Posted by | mdladlana
	IT problems at the Department of Labour's Unemployment Insurance Fund have left the Minister of Labour, "fed up" with the company contracted to provide the service, and he wants them to step aside.

15-MAR-06·	Minister applauds unionist's role with Jipsa
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has lauded the Cabinet’s appointment of veteran unionist Gwede Mantashe to head the newly-established Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (Jipsa).

08-MAR-06·	Labour Minister turns his attention to the UIF
	Posted by | mdladlana
	One of the top priorities of the Minister of Labour in the 2006/07 Financial Year and beyond is to have an improved service delivery by all organs of the Department of Labour.

08-MAR-06·	Mdladlana calms union fears about skills development
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has called on organised labour to support skills development initiatives and not be concerned about their voice in Seta structures.

01-MAR-06·	Will new tax incentives increase the number of disabled learners?
	Posted by | mdladlana
	In an effort to increase the number of people with disabilities enrolled on learnerships, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel announced more generous tax incentives in his 2006 budget. While they have been praised by Setas, there are other problems that still have to be overcome in placing people with disabilities on learnerships.

01-MAR-06·	Social partners agree on farm labour issues in Mpumalanga
	Posted by | mdladlana
	An agreement between the three major social partners to be signed shortly in Mpumalanga, will address issues of access to farms and strengthening labour laws. The Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana, will be on hand to ensure all goes smoothly.

22-FEB-06·	Mdladlana welcomes maritime workers convention
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has welcomed the proposed convention by the International Labour Organisation to improve working conditions for the maritime industry.

22-FEB-06·	Mdladlana lambasts African colleagues
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has lambasted fellow African countries for being in arrears with their financial obligations to the African Regional Labour Administration Centre.

08-FEB-06·	Seta funds down to R200 million
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Minister of Labour was on hand for a briefing on the successes achieved by the Department’s skills development activities over the last year, including an increase in learners on learnerships and a big decrease in funds sitting in Seta bank accounts.

08-FEB-06·	Skills shortage identified as public enemy number one
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Education and Skills Development form a key focus area for the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative, Asgisa. Once again the lack of skills is identified as a major problem for the country and a number of initiatives are planned to address the problem.

09-JAN-06·	Mdladlana opens Beit Bridge office
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana and his Zimbabwean counterpart Nicholas Goche have opened an office at the Beit Bridge border in an effort to curb illegal immigration to South Africa.

30-NOV-05·	Increasing the pool of management accountants
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The growth of the economy needs skills in all sectors, and one such scarce skill is management accountants who are needed by all businesses. To address this particular short supply, Fasset is working with CIMA to assist matriculants and humanities graduates to get the training and work experience they need to complete their courses.

23-NOV-05·	Mdladlana opens skills initiative for KZN youth
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The successful Thutuka project that helps young people improve their accounting and maths marks, has been rolled-out to KwaZulu-Natal by the Fasset Seta.

15-NOV-05·	Mdladlana to address the ILO
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana will attend the 294th session of the governing body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) that will be held in Geneva, Switzerland.

28-OCT-05·	Minister puts disabled before foreign investors
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana was very clear when he spoke to the Services Seta Disability Conference; he will not remove workplace protection for people with disabilities to make the labour market more attractive to foreign investors.

13-OCT-05·	Unions must protect casual workers in strikes: Mdladlana
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has expressed concern about the impact that strike actions were having on the employment relations between employers and casual workers.

14-SEP-05·	Last few days to meet deadline
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Large companies have only a few days left to complete and submit their employment equity reports on the Department of Labour's new computerised system.

14-SEP-05·	Mdladlana visits Cuba
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has arrived in Havana on a trip that he hopes will strengthen bilateral relations with the Cuban government.

25-AUG-05·	Mission to Cuba for Labour department staff
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Twenty-one employment skills practitioners (ESP 2s) from the Labour department are visiting Cuba as part of a skills empowerment programme organised by the two governments.

25-AUG-05·	Labour Minister averts a disastrous situation
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana averted a potentially disastrous situation when he ordered an immediate halt to the construction of a septic tank whose walls were on the verge of collapsing on workers anytime.

17-AUG-05·	Mdladlana promotes group training for small businesses
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Esdle or group training initiative has been promoted as a way for small businesses to access the benefits of the learnership programme without incurring the administrative burden. The excellent post-learnership employment rate achieved by the I-Fundi Esdle leads the Minister of Labour to believe this is a model that can work.

03-AUG-05·	Mdladlana proposes FET college takeover
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Minister of Labour has proposed that FET Colleges should be moved from the Education Department to the juristiction of the Department of Labour to enhance the delivery of skills training.

25-JUL-05·	SAA strike should be resolved amicably
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana is calling upon the leadership of all the parties involved in the South African Airways dispute to make serious efforts towards the resolution of the problem.

19-JUL-05·	Are labour laws really restricting economic growth?
	Posted by | mdladlana
	While the debate about relaxing labour market regulation goes on, the Minister of Labour has commissioned research to get definitive answers to some of the key questions: do SA labour laws really restrict the economy and job creation?

30-JUN-05·	Minister please come to our rescue!
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The message from training providers in KwaZulu Natal to the Minister of Labour was clear. A thick document comprising letters of complaint had a common theme – please come to our rescue!

21-JUN-05·	Mdladlana brings services closer to the people
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Minister of Labour, recently returned from the ILO meeting in Switzerland, officially opened a new department office in Nyanga, Cape Town with a rousing address to a packed hall of local dignitaries.

19-JUN-05·	ILO fails to adopt fishing convention
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister, Membathisi Mdladlana has expressed disappointment at the International Labour Conference’s failure to adopt a Convention that would regulate the working conditions of Maritime Workers.

15-JUN-05·	UIF expecting influx of taxi owners
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) is gearing itself up for the anticipated influx of taxi owners wanting to register as employers and their employees - the drivers - with the fund. The registrations commence from 1 July.

06-JUN-05·	ILO targets unsafe work environments
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Job related accidents and illnesses claim more than two million lives annually worldwide - an International Labour Organisation conference has heard.

13-MAY-05·	No more long queues for UIF beneficiaries
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Receiving money from the Unemployment Insurance Fund will no longer be tedious for many who used to travel long distances, risking being mugged in the process.

11-MAY-05·	Decentralised Compensation Fund more efficient
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Decentralising and modernising government's Compensation Fund has helped expose 435 employers who have not registered with the fund in Limpopo.

28-APR-05·	Minimum wages for the taxi industry
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Government has stepped up its efforts to regulate the taxi industry with the announcement of minimum wages and working hours for taxi drivers.

19-APR-05·	Collective action to tackle Africa's problems
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Individual countries cannot single-handedly overcome the challenges of poverty alleviation, employment creation and addressing the social ills in their societies, said Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana.

12-APR-05·	Mdladlana visits Volkswagen plant
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Labour Department’s long standing pursuit of sound relations with workers and employers was further evidenced today with Minister Mdladlana’s high profile visit of the Volkswagen car manufacturing plant in Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape.

12-APR-05·	Safety at work: Everyone’s responsibility
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Occupational health and safety remained the responsibility not only of the Government inspectors, but that of workers and employers as well, Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has said.

31-MAR-05·	Mdladlana outlines UIF disbursements
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Government has generated revenue of R68.1 million to the Unemployment Insurance Fund collected from domestic, seasonal and farm employers and employees.

22-MAR-05·	Mdladlana welcomes ILO budget discussions
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has welcomed the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Governing Body discussions on budget proposals for the 2006-2007 biennium.

11-MAR-05·	Compensation fund paid out R2.8b
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Commission for Injuries and Disease through its Compensation Fund paid out R2.8 billion to pharmacists, hospitals and doctors over the past three financial ending March 2005.

09-MAR-05·	Mdladlana reassures Parliament on Setas
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Minister of Labour has told parliament that the Labour Department has conducted an extensive review of Setas and has put systems in place to ensure they are monitored quarterly.

04-MAR-05·	Blumenthal responds to criticisms
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Ivor Blumenthal has responded in detail to comments made by the Minister of Labour and acting DDG Sam Morotoba about the finances of the Services Seta. For Blumenthal the picture is very different.

03-MAR-05·	Skills revolution scales new heights
	Posted by | mdladlana
	A new chapter has been opened in South Africa's job creation drive with the Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana, together with the National Skills Authority, launching the new National Skills Development Strategy.

03-MAR-05·	Mdladlana: “Bad Situation” at Services Seta
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Minister of Labour has confirmed that his officials looked into allegations of financial problems at the Services Seta, adding that, “The situation is quite bad”.

16-FEB-05·	Minister questions Learnership effectiveness
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Research has been commissioned by the Department of Labour to find out, once and for all, whether the national Learnership initiative is bearing fruit.

03-FEB-05·	Cosatu expulsion leads to Zanu ANC talks
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The Cosatu incident will not affect relations between Zimbabwe and South Africa, the SABC reported Zimbabwean home affairs minister Kembo Mohadi as saying on Thursday.

01-FEB-05·	Zim threatens to deport Cosatu delegation
	Posted by | mdladlana
	A Congress of SA Trade Unions delegation would be kicked out of Zimbabwe if it went ahead with a planned visit to that country, a Zimbabwean minister said.

01-FEB-05·	Mixed message over Cosatu mission
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The ANC thinks Cosatu should go to Zimbabwe, but ANC minister Membathisi Mdladlana says they shouldn't treat that country like another province of South Africa.

28-JAN-05·	CCMA at the coalface of delivery
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister, Membathisi Mdladlana said the opening of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration offices in Pretoria, was a clear indication of government's commitment to bringing services closer to the people.

04-NOV-04·	Mdladlana commends employers
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has commended employers who submitted their Employment Equity Reports which were due on the first of October.

10-OCT-04·	Skills to halve unemployment
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has emphasised the importance of skills development, saying it is key to halving employment and alleviating poverty.

08-OCT-04·	Mdladlana visits Limpopo
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has concluded his Imbizo Outreach Programme in Limpopo, after visiting government-funded projects.

04-OCT-04·	Mdladlana visits Limpopo
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana began his two-day visit to Limpopo Province with a courtesy call on the Venda Paramount Chief Mpephu Ramabulana.

26-SEP-04·	Workers must report unsafe workplaces
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has called on workers to report violations of health and safety regulations at their workplaces to their nearest labour offices in a bid to prevent unnecessary mishaps.

23-SEP-04·	Mdladlana welcomes arrest of dept official
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has welcomed the arrest of the Eastern Cape's Labour Deparment Executive Manager for alleged corruption relating to bribery and contravening government's tendering processes.

13-SEP-04·	Mdladlana grieving over Sasol explosion
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has expressed sadness after the death of an eighth Sasol employee following a blast at the company's Secunda Plant two weeks ago.

31-AUG-04·	Skills can fight poverty, says Mdladlana
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana says skills development is a key component to realise government's mission of halving poverty and unemployment by 2014.

06-AUG-04·	160 complete tourism learnership
	Posted by | mdladlana
	The economy of the Eastern Cape is set for a boost with 160 learners who have completed a learnership now set to participate in the tourism sector.

20-JUL-04·	Two Setas under fire from Mdladlana
	Posted by | mdladlana
	Two of the 25 Sectoral Education and Training Authorities (Setas) that have been identified as not performing have come under fire from Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana.

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