SA HR news roundup: Financial aid for tourism, and maritime industry has new draft OHS regulations

Ronda Naidu 18 July 2021

Radio stations team up to help people in industries hardest affected by the Covid-19 lockdown.

The draft health and safety amendments for the maritime industry changes the landscape for employers and is now open for comment. Meanwhile, unions in the steel and engineering industry are considering a 4.4 percent wage offer, while radio stations plan to raise R900,000 for staff in industries hardest hit by alcohol bans and public gathering lockdown restrictions. New Pick n Pay CEO gets one million in shares as part of his sign-on remuneration package.

Seifsa tables 4.4 percent increase offer
Seifsa has tabled a wage offer to trade unions on behalf of its 19 affiliated employer organisations. Unions have until 28 July to respond.

The overall package is for 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2024, and includes a 4.4 percent increase in year one, and increases of either 3 percent or CPI, whichever is higher, in years two and three.

Tip Jar to help those hardest hit by lockdown
Mediamark, East Coast Radio, Jacaranda FM and Smile 90.4FM have teamed up with LottoLand to lend a helping hand to those who cannot earn an income during lockdown. Each station will fill their ‘Tip Jar’ with a share of R300,000, resulting in a collective R900,000 in aid.

The financial assistance will help staff who work in industries such as hospitality, entertainment, performing arts, eventing and the local cleaning industry, which have been hardest hit by alcohol bans and public gathering prohibitions.

Maritime OHS regulation amendments open for comment
The minister of transport has published the draft Maritime Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Regulations, 2021, for comment.

The draft regulations seek to extend the ambit of the current health and safety regulations and they include additional mandatory requirements for employers and employees.

The deadline for comment is 23 July 2021.

Pick n Pay provides new CEO with one million in shares
Pick n Pay has announced that new CEO Pieter Boone will have “restricted share plan (RSP) shares as part of his sign-on remuneration package, and to further align his interests with shareholders”.

Pieter, who started in the role in April, was awarded 500,000 shares in June, which vest in June 2024, and will get a further 500,000 shares in June 2023. The second tranche will vest in 2026. At current prices, these shares are worth over R52 million.

Ronda Naidu

Ronda Naidu is the head of content at CHRO, CFO and CIO South Africa. She holds a Masters in Corporate Journalism and earned her journalistic stripes at a number of the top privately owned media companies, across the print and online platforms, in South Africa. She has been recognised as a leading strategic communications professional in the country, having headed a number of communication functions across the financial, mining, engineering and agricultural industries.

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