BusinessLive reports that a number of labour laws are set to come under scrutiny at Cosatu’s national congress in September, with the union federation pushing for amendments to some sections of the Labour Relations Act (LRA).  

It wants section 189 of the LRA, which stipulates the procedures for retrenchments, to be strengthened to make it harder for employers to get rid of workers to "protect profits".  The federation will also be setting the tone for a mass action plan that will culminate in a strike to force the government to impose a moratorium on all retrenchments until the jobs summit.  Regarding protests to promote or defend the socioeconomic interests of workers, Cosatu general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali said the process of applying for permission to strike to the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac), as required by the law, needed to be reviewed.  "The process of getting the certificate to protest is very cumbersome," he indicated.  Also, the federation wants the laws governing permissions for secondary strikes to be made more flexible.  Cosatu’s focus on the labour laws coincides with Parliament’s conclusion of the amendments to the LRA and Basic Conditions of Employment Act, with the introduction of a code of good practice that seeks to prevent prolonged strikes that harm the economy.

• Read this report by Theto Mahlakoana in full at BusinessLive

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