Month: February 2022

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) for each ordinary hour worked has been increased from R21.69 to R23.19 for the year 2022 with effect from 01 March 2022.

“This announcement is in terms of Section 6 (5) of the NMW Act, No 9 of 2018, to amend the NMW contained in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 of the National Minimum Act, published under Government Notice No. 44136,” Minister of Employment and Labour Minister, Thulas Nxesi said on Tuesday.

As in previous years, the adjustment provides exceptions for several worker groups.

These groups include farmworkers as they are entitled to a minimum wage of R23.19 per hour and domestic workers are entitled to a minimum wage of R23.19 per hour.

Workers employed on an expanded public works programme are entitled to a minimum wage of R12.75 per hour while workers who have concluded learnership agreements contemplated in section 17 of the Skills Development Act, 1998 (Act No 97 of 1998), are entitled to allowances contained in schedule 2.

“It is illegal and unfair labour practice for an employer to unilaterally change working hours or other employment conditions in order to implement the NMW. The NMW is the amount payable for ordinary hours of work and excludes payment of allowances (such as transportation, tools, food, or lodging), payments in kind (board or lodging), tips, bonuses, and gifts,” the Minister said.

The Act of 2018 requires the NMW Commission to review the rates on an annual basis and make recommendations to the Minister on any changes to the national minimum wage, while also taking into account alternative viewpoints, including those of the general public.

When determining the annual adjustment the Commission considers inflation, the cost of living, and the need to maintain the value of the minimum wage and gross domestic product.

It also considers wage levels and collective bargaining outcomes; productivity; employers’ ability to carry on their businesses successfully; the operation of small, medium, or micro-enterprises and new enterprises; and the likely impact of the recommended adjustment on employment or the creation of employment.

Click here to read more.

Disclaimer: Please note that all press releases and statements published by Bible Media News do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Bible Media.

Photo: Unsplash

The State of the Nation Address (SONA) is an annual message delivered by the President of South Africa to a joint sitting of the two houses of Parliament. The SONA will chart government’s vision for building a more prosperous, united and equal South Africa. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the 2022 State of the Nation Address on Thursday, 10 February 2022, at 7 pm. Here is why SONA Matters:

President Cyril Ramaphosa will in his SONA on Thursday, outline the first actions government will take in response to the findings and recommendations of the expert panel appointed in August 2021 to review government’s response to the July 2021 unrest. 
During his address, President Ramaphosa will highlight what has been achieved by the administration since his last address in 2021.He will also reflect on government’s response to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, and progress on the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will in his State of Nation Address on Thursday, outline the first actions government will take in response to the findings and recommendations of the expert panel appointed in August 2021 to review government’s response to the July 2021 unrest.
Government invites all South Africans to be part of the State of the Nation Address on Thursday, 10 February 2022 at 7pm. South Africans can tune into their favourite television or radio station to be part of this national milestone.

The Presiding Officers of Parliament will this morning  address the media on Parliament’s state of readiness for #SONA2022 to be delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday.

Read more:

During his address, President Ramaphosa will highlight what has been achieved by the administration since his last address in 2021.He will also reflect on government’s response to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, and progress on the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan #SONA2022 pic.twitter.com/5z1OuxOaJh

— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) February 8, 2022

Photo: Unsplash

South Africa conducted 16 067 COVID-19 tests in the past 24 hours, of which 1 228 were positive.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), this means the positivity rate now stands at 7.6%.
Gauteng accounted for 41% or 498 new cases recorded, followed by 166 in Mpumalanga, 155 in the Western Cape and 145 in KwaZulu-Natal.

Tweets by nicd_sa

Photo: Unsplash

Stage 2 loadshedding will be implemented from 21:00 tonight until 05:00 on Tuesday.

Read more:

#POWERALERT1

Stage 2 loadshedding will be implemented from 21:00 tonight until 05:00 on Tuesday pic.twitter.com/cbgptSwHaD

— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) February 7, 2022

Photo: Unsplash

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) announced on Monday that it has registered the MC Pharma also known as Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine.

Initially developed by the Beijing Institute of Biological Products, the local drug watchdog said the Chinese two-dose COVID-19 jab is administered at an interval of two to four weeks apart.

“This authorisation is based on acceptable safety, quality and efficacy data submitted by MC Pharma Pty (Ltd) to SAHPRA as a rolling submission over the period 23 July 2021 to 22 December 2021,” the organisation explained.

In March last year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) listed Sinopharm for emergency use, giving the green light for this vaccine to be rolled out globally.

According to the WHO, vaccine efficacy for symptomatic and hospitalised was estimated to be 79%, all age groups combined.  

The watchdog has also registered the Pfizer vaccine under section 15 from section 21, meaning it is now fully registered to be given to people 12 and older.

“This authorisation is based on acceptable safety, quality and efficacy data submitted by Pfizer Laboratories (Pty) Ltd to SAHPRA as a rolling submission over the period 3 February 2021 to 17 January 2022,” the statement read.

In South Africa, 22 791 139 doses of the Pfizer vaccine have already been administered.

The authorisation is, however, subject to some conditions for both vaccines.  These include that the vaccine is supplied and administered by the National COVID-19 vaccination programme, SAHPRA explained. 

“Further conditions relate to the reporting of the results of ongoing studies and conformance with pharmacovigilance activities as outlined in the approved risk management plan, including the submission of periodic safety updates.”

In addition, adverse effects of the Sinopharm and Pfizer vaccines, as outlined in the clinical trial evidence submitted by the applicants, were usually mild or moderate and cleared within a few days.

They include injection on-site, headache, tiredness, muscle pain, nauseous, while Pfizer reported two additional side effects – muscle pain and chills.

So far, SAHPRA has registered the Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson (J&J), Sinopharm and also authorised Sinovac vaccines.

Read more:

Media Release: SAHPRA registers two COVID-19 vaccines [Follow thread]

Find out more: https://t.co/ccEc0D6SIM

— SAHPRA (@SAHPRA1) February 7, 2022

Photo: Sahpra