Cosatu is determined to see labour brokers banned

Cosatu guns for Walmart, youth subsidy

RETAILER NEWS

Fin24 - Jul 1st 2011, 09:45

Johannesburg - Trade union federation Cosatu said on Thursday it is determined to see labour brokers banned, and said organised labour is facing two new threats in the form of Walmart and the youth wage subsidy.  

On the final day of its fifth central committee meeting, it issued a draft declaration which stated that employed workers did not escape the effects of the recent global recession.

"More and more workers, including many working in the hall where we met, are employed by labour brokers on poverty pay, some for only a few days a month, with no security, no benefits and none of the fundamental rights enshrined in our constitution and labour laws. We are more determined to get labour brokers banned," the declaration said.

It went on to say that even in sectors that had bargaining councils some employers were blatantly refusing to abide by negotiated agreements, and were threatening to close factories and move to countries where workers are paid less.

The draft declaration slated US retail giant Walmart for "union bashing" and accused it of trying to squeeze workers' wages to the minimum, claiming it would cause massive job losses in its rival retail companies and South African manufacturers.

"The central committee pledged its total support to the Saccawu (South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers Union) campaign and resolved to take to the streets to defend jobs and union rights," it said.

The declaration said that the state's youth wage subsidy threatened to cause even greater "super-exploitation" of workers, as employers would "rush to retrench older workers whose wages are not subsidised".

Cosatu's draft declaration said it had resolved to take its campaign for living wages to new heights to counter the threats.

Part of this campaign would be to establish a commission that would meet four times a year to analyse and assess progress in improving workers' wages.

Cosatu said it would also focus on the "social wage", by campaigning for the national health insurance system to be implemented, decent and affordable housing, free education for all and safe, reliable and affordable public transport.