▶️ read the post first published by SAFTU here
In this statement, the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) says they are eagerly awaiting the opening of Parliament, where the Government of National Unity (GNU) Cabinet’s recent decisions will be discussed. SAFTU is concerned that the government, being pro-business, might not support working-class interests. Below is a summary of SAFTU’s key expectations of the GNU, which they hope will be addressed in the Opening of Parliament Address.
- Foreign Policy: SAFTU criticizes the Democratic Alliance (DA) for its support of Israel and wants the government to continue efforts to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza.
- National Minimum Wage: SAFTU believes the national minimum wage should be increased to R72 per hour to ensure workers can earn a living wage. They oppose the idea that higher wages cause unemployment.
- Employment Equity: SAFTU supports laws that promote job opportunities for historically marginalized groups. They oppose efforts to repeal these laws, which aim to address the unfair legacies of apartheid and colonialism.
- Right to Strike: SAFTU wants to protect the right to strike and opposes any changes to labor laws that would weaken workers’ power and favor employers.
- Industrialization: SAFTU calls for a reversal of the decline in manufacturing jobs. They want the government to focus on processing minerals within South Africa instead of exporting them, which would create more local jobs.
- Fiscal Expansion: SAFTU argues that the government should spend more on public services and infrastructure, despite claims that there is no money. They believe this would improve public institutions and create jobs.
