This post first appeared on SAFTU: IN SUMMARY – SAFTU has strongly criticized the government for ending Community Work Programmes (CWP) for workers aged 55 and older. This decision, made just before Christmas, leaves many older workers without income in a country with no proper social safety net and high unemployment. These workers, who have served their communities for years, now face poverty and struggle to find new jobs. SAFTU says the government is following harmful austerity policies that prioritize budget cuts over people’s needs. They demand the reinstatement of these workers, permanent jobs for public programme workers, and an end to age discrimination. They also call for fairer taxes on the rich and action against corruption. If the government does not reverse this decision, SAFTU plans protests, strikes, and legal challenges. They urge everyone to join the fight for justice and dignity for workers.
The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) expresses outrage at the government’s shameful decision to terminate Community Work Programmes (CWP) for workers aged 55 and above. This cold and calculated move further entrenches poverty and unemployment in South Africa, targeting some of the most vulnerable members of our society.
This cruel act is in line with the government’s broader neoliberal agenda, which prioritises austerity and the so-called fiscal consolidation targets over the well-being of workers and the majority black working class. It follows a pattern of callous decisions, including the early retirement of 30,000 public sector workers. It signals a complete disregard for the economic struggles of ordinary South Africans, most of whom rely on public services with massive staff shortages and infrastructure backlogs.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) announced this termination just before Christmas, displaying a shocking lack of compassion. Workers over 55, who have dedicated over a decade of their lives to these programmes, are being cast aside without regard for their livelihoods or critical contributions to their communities.This decision leaves them to face starvation and despair in a country with no comprehensive social security system.
The Real Cost of Neoliberalism and Austerity
The government’s decision reflects its slavish commitment to austerity policies dictated by international financial institutions like the IMF rather than a genuine concern for uplifting the lives of South Africans. Despite widespread calls by SAFTU and other progressive formations for a R1,500 grant, the absence of a universal basic income grant exacerbates the crisis. Terminating these jobs forces older workers to fend for themselves in an economy where high unemployment is structurally entrenched.
South Africa’s unemployment crisis is dire, with 12,2 million or 42% of the population unemployed. Over 80% of the unemployed have been jobless for more than a year, making it nearly impossible for older workers to find alternative employment. This decision effectively condemns them to years of poverty, as they are too young to access government pensions but too old to compete in a saturated job market.
SAFTU’s Demands and Call to Action
SAFTU and its affiliates, the Municipal and Allied Trade Union of South Africa (MATUSA) and the National Union of Public Servants and Allied Workers (NUPSAW), strongly condemn this inhumane decision. We demand:
1. Immediate Reinstatement: All workers over 55 years old must be reinstated immediately.
2. Permanent Employment: All Extended Public Works and Community Health workers must transition to permanent employment, recognising their critical services.
3. Non-Discriminatory Policies: The government must end discriminatory practices, including ageism, in employment policies.
4. Stakeholder Engagement: The government must consult trade unions and affected workers to develop equitable and sustainable solutions.
5. Abandon Austerity: The government must reject anti-development austerity policies and prioritise addressing historical inequalities and developmental backlogs.
6.Tax Justice: Reinstate higher corporate tax rates and ensure the ultra-rich contribute their fair share to the economy
7. End Illicit Financial Flows: Take urgent steps to stop the R1.1 trillion lost annually to illicit financial flows, as the United Nations estimates.
Recognising Workers’ Contributions
Many of these workers have been in the programme since its inception in 2010, filling critical gaps left by government vacancies. This exploitation must end. Workers who have given years of service deserve recognition, not abandonment.
Mobilisation and Resistance
SAFTU will not sit idly by while workers are discarded like convenience tools. Should the government fail to reverse this unjust decision, we will escalate our resistance through mass protests, strikes, and legal challenges. The working class cannot continue to bear the brunt of government indifference and neoliberal policies.
Unite for Justice
SAFTU calls on all progressive forces to join this fight. Together, we can demand a government that places people before profits and ensures dignity for every worker, regardless of age. We will not rest until justice is served.Forward to victory! Forward to justice for all workers!
