BankservAfrica data shows that high inflation is knocking salaries.
Trade union federation Saftu confirms its support of a national shutdown on 24 August, in protest against the rising cost of living, under the tagline “mobilise or starve”. Meanwhile, the Department of Home Affairs announces its three-year project to employ 10,000 graduates to digitise more than 350 million documents. BankservAfrica’s Take-home Pay Index shows the negative impact of surging inflation on take-home pay and private healthcare group Netcare has been recognised as a leading employer of people with disabilities.
Home Affairs to employ 10,000 graduates
As part of a R2.4 billion, three-year project to digitise more than 350 million documents, the Department of Home Affairs will employ 10,000 young graduates.
This was announced by Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi.
Eligible unemployed graduates should be qualified in IT and document, information and records management, with the qualifications being obtained from institutions of higher learning. They will receive training and be paid a stipend ranging from R5,000 for entry-level positions to R9,500 for technical-support level positions and R14,250 for manager-level positions.
Intake will be staggered, starting with the first group of 2,000 recruits being employed on 1 November 2022.
High inflation knocks salaries
The latest monthly BankservAfrica Take-home Pay Index (BTPI) shows that surging inflation rates, interest rate hikes, ongoing loadshedding issues, as well as rising fuel, food and administered prices are taking a toll on the average salaried worker.
“Reflecting the dismal economic environment and the impact of inflation, the BTPI showed that the average nominal salary has been moderating notably from R15,570 in February to R14,600 in June 2022,” says Shergeran Naidoo, BankservAfrica’s head of Stakeholder Engagements. “June is the second consecutive month that nominal salaries have remained below the R15,000 mark and 1.8 percent lower compared to a year ago.”
Netcare a leading PwD employer
The Netcare Group has been recognised as a leading employer of persons with disabilities (PwD), among JSE listed companies with more than 10,000 employees.
The Integrated Reporting and Assurance Services (IRAS) in partnership with the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) presented the award to the private healthcare provider.
“We are grateful for this opportunity to highlight the significant contribution to our business made daily by our 777 colleagues who are persons with disabilities, representing 4.03 percent of our total workforce,” said Sanjay Khoosal, Netcare’s head of people development and employment equity.
Saftu, allies ready for national shutdown
The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) and its allies have decided to stage a national shutdown on 24 August 2022.
The Federation reportedly has more than 800,000 members, and with many of these representatives are expected to take part in direct strike action under the tagline “mobilise or starve”. They are demanding a plan to reduce unemployment, lower food and electricity prices, reduced interest rates, and a basic income grant.
