scholarly journals Geographical and industry differences on remuneration gap-enhanced labour productivity levels in a developing economy: South Africa as a case study

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 499-514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerhardus Van Zyl
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Negative Sign ◽  
Developing Economy ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

The aim of the article was to determine the geographic and industry differences for employee-remuneration gap-enhanced labour productivity levels in a developing economy. The Winter-Ebmer and Zweimuller model was used to estimate the signs and magnitudes of the employee-remuneration gap-enhanced labour productivity levels for the different industries in the different geographical areas. The estimation results for all three industries indicated a significant difference between the higher gross geographical product (GGP) provinces and the lower GGP provinces in terms of the employee-remuneration gap-enhanced labour productivity indicator coefficients (ERGLP indicator coefficients). The negative sign of the ERGLP indicator coefficients for the industries of some of the lower GGP provinces relates to the non-existence of any possible positive labour productivity effects that might stem from employee-remuneration gaps. The introduction of business uncertainty resulted in smaller ERGLP indicator coefficients across all industries and geographical areas. The impact was much more severe in the case of the lower GGP provinces

People-centred management for improving construction workers' productivity in Zimbabwe

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 350-368
Author(s):  
Tirivavi Moyo ◽  
Gerrit Crafford ◽  
Fidelis Emuze
Keyword(s):  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
The People ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
High Concern ◽  
The Impact

PurposeWhile operational factors reduce construction workers' productivity in Zimbabwe, the impact of the people-centred management aspects has not been empirically interrogated as a remedy. This article reports on a study that sought to determine significant people-centred management aspects that lead to improved labour productivity and assesses the existence of statistically significant differences due to the demographic variables of respondents. Demographic-specific strategies that enhance construction “workers” productivity were revealed.Design/methodology/approachThe survey research design using a self-administered questionnaire was deployed to collect the primary data. The design followed a positivist paradigm to evaluate objectively how people-centred management affects construction workers' productivity. The statistical data were descriptively and inferentially analysed.FindingsPeople-centred management was determined to be significant in improving construction workers' productivity, with the most significant aspect being the building of employee confidence in related approaches. Designations and educational levels mostly indicated a statistically significant difference in several aspects that included the adoption of a functional reward culture for workers and training on people-centred principles. Training on-site management and construction workers in people-centred management and its application are crucial to improving construction workers' productivity.Research limitations/implicationsConstruction companies should drastically improve their concern for people while they sustain a high concern for production within their construction sites. Although several factors affect construction workers' productivity, this study determined that management-related factors and people-centred management were significant towards influencing low productivity in Zimbabwe.Originality/valueThe study determined people-centred management and demographic-specific interventions as being able to improve construction workers' productivity in Zimbabwe.

scholarly journals Doctors’ Extended Shifts as Risk to Practitioner and Patient: South Africa as a Case Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (16) ◽  
pp. 5853
Author(s):  
Koot Kotze ◽  
Helene-Mari van der Westhuizen ◽  
Eldi van Loggerenberg ◽  
Farah Jawitz ◽  
Rodney Ehrlich
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Medical Practice ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Working Hours ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Safe Working ◽  
Working Hour

Extended shifts are common in medical practice. This is when doctors are required to work continuously for more than 16 h, with little or no rest, often without a maximum limit. These shifts have been a part of medical practice for more than a century. Research on the impact of fatigue presents compelling evidence that extended shifts increase the risk of harm to patients and practitioners. However, where the number of doctors is limited and their workloads are not easily reduced, there are numerous barriers to reform. Some of these include a perceived lack of safer alternatives, concerns about continuity of care, trainee education, and doctors’ preferences. As such, working hour reorganisation has been contentious globally. South Africa, a middle-income country where extended shifts are unregulated for most doctors, offers a useful case study of reform efforts. The South African Safe Working Hours campaign has promoted working hour reorganization through multi-level advocacy efforts, although extended shifts remain common. We propose that extended shifts should be regarded as an occupational hazard under health and safety legislation. We suggest options for managing the risks of extended shifts by adapting the hierarchy of controls for occupational hazards. Despite the challenges reform pose, the practice of unregulated extended shifts should not continue.

scholarly journals The Impact of Productivity, Investment and Real Wages on Employment Absorption Rate in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Habanabakize ◽  
Daniel Francois Meyer ◽  
Judit Oláh
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Absorption Rate ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Series Data ◽  
The South ◽  
Real Wages ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Investment Spending ◽  
The Impact

Many developing countries are facing high levels of unemployment and most people who are employed are poorly remunerated due to low skills and productivity levels. Although jobs are important, a productive job is even more important, not only for employees, but also for employers. South Africa, being a developing country, is also facing the challenge of dramatically high levels of unemployment. This study’s aim was to examine both the short- and long-term impacts of real wages, labour productivity and investment spending on employment absorption rates in South Africa. To establish the existing relationship between variables, the study applied several econometric approaches, such as an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model, error correction model (ECM) and a Toda–Yamamoto causality analysis on quarterly time series data from 1995Q1 to 2019Q1. The results revealed the existence of both short- and long-run relationships among the variables. While a positive relationship was found between employment absorption, investment spending and labour productivity, it was found that real wages negatively impact on long-run employment absorption rates. Additionally, the short-run analysis indicated that the lagged employment absorption rate influences the current rate of employment. Furthermore, the causality tests indicated that a bi-directional causal relationship exists between employment absorption and investment spending; and a uni-directional relationship between employment and both real wages and labour productivity. Based on the findings, the study recommends increments of investment spending and labour productivity that enables the South African economy to carry out more activities that would require more workers, thereby improving the employment absorption rate. The fact that labour productivity positively impacts the employment absorption rate infers the requirement for quality and skilled workers to be absorbed in the South African labour market. Therefore, labour skills improvements appear to be a prerequisite for productivity enhancement and job creation.

Demonstrating the effectiveness of social franchising principles: the emptying of household ventilated improved pits: a case study from South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 623-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Wall ◽  
O. Ive ◽  
J. Bhagwan ◽  
F. Kirwan ◽  
W. Birkholtz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Disposal Site ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Home Base ◽  
Work Site ◽  
Social Franchising ◽  
Partnership Model ◽  
Specialized Equipment ◽  
The Impact

Having viewed the successful social franchising partnerships pilot programme that serviced sanitation facilities at 400 schools in the Butterworth District of the Eastern Cape of South Africa, the Amathole District Municipality (ADM) expressed interest in exploring how well the partnership model could empty household pit latrines in its jurisdiction. The impact and effectiveness of the model was demonstrated by the emptying, by five franchisees over a period of only six weeks, of the contents of 400 household ventilated improved pit latrines in Govan Mbeki Village, and the safe disposal of their content. The paper describes the methods and results in removal and disposal of faecal sludge. Problems were encountered, and the solutions (technical, institutional and social) are described. Not unexpectedly, the amount of effort involved in this work – including time, training required, equipment required and ingenuity – varied enormously. The main variables included the type of top structure, the nature of the pit contents, whether or not there was broad consistency of type and contents in an area, distances (between pits, from home base to work site, from pits to disposal site, from location of specialized equipment to work site), logistical delays (e.g. non-arrival of equipment) and bureaucratic hold-ups (especially payment delays).

scholarly journals Assessing the impact of liquid wastes discharge in the sea. A case study off Amanzimtoti, near Durban, Natal, South Africa

1991 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 383-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Newell ◽  
D. W Maughan ◽  
L. J. Seiderer ◽  
M. W. Trett ◽  
C. G. Nicholson
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Liquid Wastes ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Trio-preparation of Health Care Students for Digital Era in Universiti Malaysia Sabah – Case Study

2019 ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Maher Safien ◽  
Deena C Thomas ◽  
Richard Avoi ◽  
Mohamed Firdaus ◽  
Fairrul Bin Masnah Kadir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Educational Environment ◽  
Health Care Students ◽  
Digital Era ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Creating an educational climate that engages the students in the digital era is crucial as it prepares them for the future.Objectives: The aim of this multiple case study is to highlight the impact of creative educational environment on the students’ awareness of digital era tools.Methods: In this study three activities were organized. Firstly, a brain storming seminar titled “Medical Practice in Artificial Intelligence Era” was held. The second event was E-poster competitions which challenged the students’ curiosity to address the health problems and to introduce innovative solutions to solve it. Medical and nursing students presented 32 posters. Third activity was MeDuino, a hands-on workshop to familiarize the students with arduino technology in medical practice.Results: Around 260 participants attended the seminar. In their feedback, 72% of students found the topics attractive and more than 60% found its theme relevant and beneficial. E-poster competition was evaluated using a modified rubric scale. The data was analysed by SPSS showed that only “creativity” and “practicality” merits scored little above the mean range. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean score of ‘creativity’ and ‘practicality’ between medical students and nursing students. However, in general medical students’ scores were higher compared to nursing students. 90% of students said that they improved cognitively and 85% found it fascinating. In Meduino workshop (Robotics), The 30 participants practiced mini projects. 86 % found it attractive, 81% expressed that it improve d their cognitive about technology as noted in comparing the pre and post- event questionnaires. The students’ concerns included the time constraints short time and lack of lecturers’ guidance during posters’ preparation.Conclusion(s): Transforming educational environment physically, emotionally and socially managed to address few aspects digital era. Allocating more time, facilities and training in the informal curriculum could enhance health-care students mastering of future tools.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Supplementary Issue: 2019 Page: 31

scholarly journals Crime and the Regional Disparities in Tourist Inflows: A Case Study of South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 356-375
Author(s):  
Busani Moyo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Exchange Rate ◽  
North America ◽  
Southern Europe ◽  
Monthly Data ◽  
Sexual Crime ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
World Income ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of crime proxied by different indicators on regional tourist inflows to South Africa. The estimations are carried out using the Johansen estimation techniques. Monthly data gathered from March 2003 to April 2011 is employed and the results from the estimations found that total crime has a negative effect on tourists from Africa, North America, Central and Southern America, West and Southern Europe. However, the level of crime in the country appears to have no influence at all to tourist from the Middle East whilst those from Asia are more sensitive to the level of sexual crime. At the different categories of crime investigated, tourists react differently. In line with the findings of the existing literature, the real exchange rate and world income remain to have a significant effect on tourist inflows from most of the regions.

scholarly journals The impact of economic growth on unemployment in South Africa: 1994 – 2012

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 699-707
Author(s):  
Handson Banda ◽  
Ireen Choga
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Time Series Data ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Real Effective Exchange Rate ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Long Run ◽  
The Impact

One of the most pressing problems facing the South African economy is unemployment, which has been erratic over the past few years. This study examined the impact of economic growth on unemployment, using quarterly time series data for South Africa for the period 1994 to 2012.Johansen Co-integration reflected that there is stable and one significant long run relationship between unemployment and the explanatory variables that is economic growth (GDP), budget deficit (BUG), real effective exchange rate (REER) and labour productivity (LP). The study utilized Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to determine the effects of macroeconomic variables thus REER, LP, GDP and BUG on unemployment in South Africa. The results of VECM indicated that LP has a negative long run impact on unemployment whilst GDP, BUG and REER have positive impact. The study resulted in the following policy recommendation: South African government should re-direct its spending towards activities that directly and indirectly promote creation of employment and decent jobs; a conducive environment and flexible labour market policies or legislations without impediments to employment creation should be created; and lastly government should prioritise industries that promote labour intensive. All this will help in absorbing large pools of the unemployed population thereby reducing unemployment in South Africa.

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