Tag: job loss

We are acutely aware of the challenges posed by recent minimum wage increases mandated by the South African government. While the intention behind these increases is to improve the livelihoods of minimum wage earners, the reality is that they often create a complex web of consequences, particularly in industries like contract cleaning.

South Africa’s automotive sector has seen a steady downshift in sales with a year-on-year decline for the fourth consecutive year due to inflation, high levels of debt, a rising cost of living and unpredictable fuel hikes forcing consumers to tighten their purse strings.

There’s an old saying "there are two sides to every story". And the current battle over the question of chicken import duties and tariff rebates serves as a case in point. While the issue may be complex, there is a potentially simple solution: extend the rebate for those products that are critical for lower income families and manufacturing, where they add the greatest value for local businesses and consumers.

A report published by market research specialist In On Africa in August last year presented some interesting insights about artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in South Africa. In a survey of more than 3,000 South Africans working across various industries, 59% stated that they knew about ChatGPT but only 38% had used it previously.

By focusing on being open, understanding, and reliable when communicating with employees, employers can successfully handle challenging situations and emerge stronger and more resilient. During times of crisis, it is crucial for organisations to focus on engaging and communicating effectively with their employees.

At the AI Government Summit on 5 April 2024, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) launched South Africa’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Planning Discussion Document with the purpose of the discussion document being to initiate discussion between the public and private sector to facilitate AI innovation. 

Three decades into our constitutional democracy, the remnants of our dark past continue to lurk in the layered echelons of our unequal society. In commemoration of Freedom Day, we are reminded that though blood was shed and sacrifices were made to attain this freedom, not all South Africans are privy to its gains. Many South Africans are politically free yet economically poor.

Few business leaders dispute that artificial intelligence (AI) is on course to upend every major market sector and industry, but many boards aren’t always aware of what a successful AI strategy looks like, or how best to prepare their organisations for the change.

The employment trends in the metals and engineering sector are an important indicator for the underlying structural constraints that have plagued the sector for the last decade and a half. The sector currently employs 362,871 people, which is a significant drop from the 577,507 people employed in 2008.

Each industrial revolution has caused disruption, but it doesn't necessarily mean a net loss of jobs. While automation and artificial intelligence (AI) can eliminate jobs and industries, they also create new ones. AI has already improved our lives, especially in the service industry, by increasing efficiency and giving us more free time for tasks like booking flights or ordering food. However, these improvements are somewhat superficial.