Cape Town – The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has announced its preparedness for a nationwide strike and protests set to take place on Monday, coinciding with the World Day for Decent Work, focusing on unemployment, poverty, and income inequality.
The federation aims to address the lack of decent jobs and highlight ongoing retrenchments despite high unemployment, which affects 11.3 million people in South Africa.
According to SABC News, COSATU spokesperson Zanele Sabela said that even those employed often face poor working conditions, citing examples of labour abuses in restaurants and other workplaces.
“So, it’s about decent jobs, but not just that, it’s also the fact that 11.3 million people in this country need jobs, but at the same time as that is happening, there are these continuing retrenchments that are taking place,” the report quoted Sabela as saying.
Dear #NEHAWU Member, Please join us on the 07th October 2024 as #COSATU leads a nationwide protest. This is a protected strike marching against the high unemployment rate, rampant retrenchment both in the public&private sectors, the ever rising cost of living, crime @eNCA pic.twitter.com/r3VQKhQzqx
— @COSATU Today (@_cosatu) October 3, 2024
In a statement last week, she said that the socio-economic crisis in South Africa has affected many people.
“Chief among our grievances is the staggering unemployment rate in the country. As it stands 11.3 million people need jobs. This includes people who have given up looking for work, but that does not mean they don’t need jobs,” Sabela said.
She said that despite some improvements, such as interest rate cuts by the South African Reserve Bank, COSATU’s upcoming march will focus on rising living costs, including Eskom’s proposed 36.1% tariff increase.
Sabela emphasised the importance of uniting to highlight widespread and serious issues, urging the government and businesses to take action.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
