SAFTU rejects several proposed amendments to SA labour laws
The proposals by the government and organised business seek to make sweeping changes to the country’s labour laws on issues like retrenchments, minimum wage and dismissals, among others.
- South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU)
- National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC)
From left: Rendani Munyai, the President of the South African Industrial Commercial and Allied Workers Union (SAICWU), Nontombeko Lozipho - Deputy Secretary General the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) and SAFTU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi. Picture: Thabiso Goba/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) has rejected several proposed amendments to the country’s labour laws.
The government and organised businesses' proposals seek to make sweeping changes to the country’s labour laws on issues including retrenchments, minimum wage and dismissals.
SAFTU hosted a media briefing at their Johannesburg offices on Tuesday afternoon, to communicate their opposition to the changes.
For the past two years, SAFTU has been part of a task team convened by the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) to discuss the proposed labour law amendments.
The task team includes three other trade union federations, business councils and the government.
SAFTU's General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, says these amendments are an attack on the working class.
“These proposals attempt to give effect to what has long been suggested to remedy the low-growth South African economy that the South African labour regime needs to be reformed. The proposed amendments are not politically or ideologically neutral but serve the interests of the capitalist class.”
A report from the task team is expected to be presented to the labour minister before the year ends.
LABOUR LAW AMENDMENTS
Meanwhile, SAFTU says proposed labour law amendments would limit the use of strikes as a negotiating tactic.
SAFTU said one of the proposals seeks to amend Section 77 of the Labour Relations Act that deals with protesting.
Vavi said these pose a threat to workers' right to strike.
“The capitalists want to stop the continuous use of section 77 strikes, as is currently the case. Regarding Section 77 of the LRA [Labour Relations Act], a union/federation of unions can call a socio-economic protest strike. The certificate for such protest strikes lasts indefinitely as long as their demands have not been met.
"Now, the employers and government want the certificate to lapse if it is not used within 12 months. The unions/ federations must then reapply again or submit a new application even if they have ignored the demands that led to the first application granted. This is another way in which working-class power is undermined by these amendments in the bosses' interest.”
On the other side, organised business has argued these amendments are to improve efficiency in the workplace.