COSATU slams govt’s decision to retrench 67k elderly CPW workers
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs announced that the contracts of those aged 50 years and older would not be renewed, citing budget constraints for its decision.
COSATU’s Parliamentary coordinator Matthew Parks. Picture: X/Radio702
JOHANNESBURG - The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has slammed the government’s decision to retrench 67,000 elderly Community Works Programme (CPW) workers.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) announced that the contracts of those aged 50 years and older would not be renewed, citing budget constraints for its decision.
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COSATU said it will seek an urgent meeting with the ministers for COGTA and finance to ensure the decision is reversed.
The union’s Mathew Parks said where cuts must be made, the wealthy should be targeted.
“We think it’s unacceptable. We have an unemployment rate of nearly 42%. We think it’s beyond immoral for government to decide to say 67,000 people must exit the programme, and with all the limitations of this programme, it pays the minimum wage, and all the challenges it has, those who are on it don’t have any alternative. They’re not going to find jobs in this economy, they don’t qualify for the old-age grant, they’re five years too young.”