• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
No Result
View All Result
1
Home Politics

Labour unions concerned as workers return to work

3 January 2021, 9:06 AM  |
Ntebo Mokobo Ntebo Mokobo |  @SABCNews
NtshaliNtshali was delivering a message of support to the SACP as the party marks the passing of former Chairperson Joe Slovo 26 years ago.

NtshaliNtshali was delivering a message of support to the SACP as the party marks the passing of former Chairperson Joe Slovo 26 years ago.

Image: SABC News

NtshaliNtshali was delivering a message of support to the SACP as the party marks the passing of former Chairperson Joe Slovo 26 years ago.

The safety of workers has become a worrying factor for some labour federations. This as workers return to work next week. Both the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and South African Federation of Trade Union (SAFTU) fear that workers will be more exposed to coronavirus infections, as the country is in the midst of the second wave of the pandemic.

South Africa’s unemployment rate is standing at over 30%, and with the coronavirus pandemic forcing some companies to shut down, more people could lose their jobs.

Last year alone, 6-million South Africans lost their jobs as a result of the impact of the pandemic. And as the country entered the second wave of the pandemic, labour federations fear that this could raise the country’s unemployment figures.

COSATU General-Secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali is cautiously optimistic about the New Year.

“2021 should be a year of inclusive economic recovery, the creation of jobs, addressing the health crisis, poverty and unemployment. With the Eskom Compact, the Nedlac Economic Recovery Plan, the mobilisation of resources, the promotion of local procurement and speedy implementation of these plans, we stand a better opportunity to address the interest of the workers and to achieve the aims of the Freedom Charter. So we are hopeful that as we enter this year working together as trade unions, government and business particularly ending the question of investment strike we stand a better chance for economic recovery.”

SAFTU on the other hand says poverty, inequality and unemployment can be mitigated with the introduction of a basic income grant.

General-Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi says there is no better time to introduce the basic income grant other than now.

“We want now an expanded relief, a true stimulus package. There can be no better time of introducing the basic income grant other than now. People are dying not just of the coronavirus but people are dying in their homes of poverty. We are rejecting those tokenisms, add onto our pensions and our child support programmes. We want a speedy introduction of the basic income grant as a living wage.”

Vavi also fears more workers will be exposed to infections as they return to work in the New Year. Currently, South Africa has over 1-million infections with over 288 COVID-19 related deaths. He says without proper safety protocols being adhered to by some in the public transport sector, the numbers could increase significantly when workers return to work next week.

#COVID19 Statistics in SA as at 02 January .

Use the COVID Alert SA app to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community. Start using this privacy preserving app today. Add your phone to the fight! Download the Covid Alert SA app now! https://t.co/8YKEqaiiRF pic.twitter.com/8TGk9tzsWT

— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) January 2, 2021

As of today, the total number of confirmed #COVID19 cases is 1 088 889 the total number of deaths is 29 175 and the total number of recoveries is 897 704. pic.twitter.com/mJt1Go519L

— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) January 2, 2021

“Workers are now returning to work under the conditions where there is no public transport system that is reliable, loaded into taxis where our government has refused to meet the legitimate demands of the taxi associations that it put aside a R4-billion as a form of assistance to ensure that taxi’s carry only 7% of their load in terms of Level 3 of the regulations. The labour movement must be more mobilised to ensure that no worker must go into work without first being tested with the necessary speed that the crisis demands. ”

Meanwhile, labour federations have again vowed to intensify their fight for workers’ rights and better working conditions.

Labour unions say 2020 was a bad year for workers due to retrenchments: 

Share article
Tags: second waveCosatuUnemploymentSaftuCOVID-19
Previous Post

Services at Leratong Hospital affected by flooding restored

Next Post

Setswana musician Kori Moraba succumbs to COVID-19 complications

Related Posts

Former South African President Jacob Zuma

Judgment expected in Downer/ Maughan application against Zuma’s private prosecution

6 June 2023, 9:12 PM
Aerial view of the City of Johannesburg

Crime, load shedding high on City of Joburg priorities

6 June 2023, 4:33 PM
File Image: A Denel company logo is seen at the entrance of their business divisions in Pretoria, South Africa, December 4, 2018.

Scopa threatens to subpoena Denel Board to appear before it

6 June 2023, 12:52 PM

VIDEO | COJ Mayor Gwamanda delivers State of the City Address

6 June 2023, 10:26 AM
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson speaks during a media briefing on outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held in Parliament on Wednesday 7 August 2013.

Northern Cape ANC addresses media following Joemat-Pettersson’s death

6 June 2023, 10:00 AM
File Image: Defunct VBS Mutual Bank

Limpopo ANC PEC orders municipalities to recover lost public funds in VBS scandal

6 June 2023, 8:21 AM
Next Post
Funeral arrangements are yet to be finalised.

Setswana musician Kori Moraba succumbs to COVID-19 complications

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Eastern Cape ActionSA raises eyebrows over qualifications of senior officials
  • Unisa suspends registrar for various breaches of policy
  • Slain teen Palesa Malatji’s family calls for death sentence to be reinstated
  • Orlando Pirates player Thembinkosi Lorch found guilty of assault
  • Limpopo district embroiled in fraudulent travel claims
  • Dr Nandipha’s looks during court appearances under the spotlight
  • Deadline for Zimbabwean Exemption Permits draws near
  • Reserve Bank expected to increase repo rate on Thursday
  • Zimbabwe receives 18 helicopters from Russian Federation
  • Eastern Cape ActionSA raises eyebrows over qualifications of senior officials
  • Orlando Pirates player Thembinkosi Lorch found guilty of assault
  • Construction of softball stadium halted in Limpopo
  • Limpopo ANC PEC orders municipalities to recover lost public funds in VBS scandal
  • Zwane expected to remain Chiefs coach despite dismal season
  • Buses in Tshwane grind to a halt due to strike by SAMWU workers

LATEST

File Image: SAMWU members hold posters during a strike.
  • South Africa

Bus operations suspended due to Samwu strike in Tshwane


The inaugural LIV Golf Invitational - Centurion Club, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Britain - June 10, 2022 England's Sam Horsfield of the Majesticks team in action during the second round REUTERS
  • Sport
  • Golf

PGA Tour reaches surprise merger deal with Saudis, LIV Golf


FILE PHOTO: Representations of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies on a screen showing binary codes are seen through a magnifying glass in this illustration picture taken September 27, 2021. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/File Photo
  • Business

Asia stocks hold up, China gives up some gains after weak trade data


FILE PHOTO: Houses are seen in the Debussy neighbourhood
  • World

Fatal quake hits Haiti as it reels from floods


[File image] Police tape marks off a crime scene.
  • South Africa

Female student stabbed to death at NMU residence


  • Africa

Kenya economic growth to edge up this year, World Bank says


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2023

Previous Services at Leratong Hospital affected by flooding restored
Next Setswana musician Kori Moraba succumbs to COVID-19 complications