Govt must address stagnant economy, stop retrenching workers without creating new jobs - COSATU
This comes as hundreds of demonstrators led by Cosatu marched to Parliament and the Western Cape legislature on Monday to hand over a memorandum of demands.
Hundreds of demonstrators led by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) marched to Parliament and the Western Cape Legislature on 7 October 2024, to handover a memorandum demanding for the government to address the high cost of living, poverty, unemployment and inequality. Picture: Melikhaya Zagagana/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) said that government must address the stagnant economy and stop retrenching workers without creating new jobs.
This comes as hundreds of demonstrators led by Cosatu marched to Parliament and the Western Cape legislature on Monday to hand over a memorandum of demands.
The COSATU march has reached the offices of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in Sandton. TCG pic.twitter.com/nopbcNeTVj
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) October 7, 2024
The demonstration also marked the World Day of Decent Work, which is observed on 7 October annually.
Several other unions participated in the march, including FEDUSA, SACCAWU, NEHAWU, and the United Transport Union.
Cosatu said that government's slow pace in addressing issues of inequality, unemployment and poverty would no longer be tolerated.
Cosatu's parliamentary coordinator, Matthew Parks: "It's about addressing issues of workers' low wages, workers demand a living wage, about addressing the issues of crime and corruption, which is endemic across the state, across society, deep levels of poverty and inequality. So, it's really a chance to put pressure on government and private sector, to say workers are angry, they want more to be done, we are running out of time."
Cosatu added that government must expect regular protests if the tabled demands were not addressed.