SECUNDA – Federations of trade unions have called on the Mpumalanga provincial government to come up with strategies to combat the high unemployment rate in the province at the 2018 Workers’ Parliament held at the Johannes Stegmann Theatre on Friday, 18 May.
Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), the Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) and The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) raised various issues that are affecting Mpumalanga workers.
Mr Xoliso Posiso, from Saftu, said Government deals with corruption which undermines the development of the country.
He said unemployment has become the accepted norm in South Africa and called on the government to come up with solutions.
Mr Thabo Mokoena, from Cosatu, said workers are not pleased with the increase in VAT from 14 per per cent to 15 per cent, because it further cripples the economic conditions of workers. He said Eskom’s continuous increase of the electricity tariffs and unity among workers must be intensified.
Commissions that sat on 17 May in preparation of the Workers’ Parliament also presented resolutions that will further be processed by Members of the Legislature.
The event was attended by representatives from the CCMA and the departments of labour, rural development and land affairs.
Ms Thandi Ngxonono, executive mayor of Govan Mbeki Municipality, Mr Nhlakanipho Zuma, Speaker, and other councillors including those from the Gert Sibande District Municipality, also attended the event.
A declaration was read by the provincial secretary of Cosatu, Mr Thabo Mokoena, about decent jobs for all, the eradication of the replacement of South African workers by undocumented and illegal workers, building a developmental and an accountable state, achieving a national minimum wage for all, fighting to defend democratic institutions that are custodians of labour legislature and achieving the true legislative approach for the clear and quick transfer of land to the rightful owners.
The declaration was signed by all parties present.
