Fin24 reports that unlike her predecessors, newly appointed Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, does not have strong ties with trade unions and is an unknown quantity to both business and the labour sector.
Former minister Thulas Nxesi was left off the ANC’s list for the National Assembly and Meth, who served most of her political career in the Eastern Cape provincial legislature, was appointed in his place. For years, labour ministers have had strong, historic ties with trade unions. Former ministers Nxesi and Membathisi Mdladlana were both members of Sadtu and former minister Mildred Oliphant had been a Saccawu leader. According to People's Assembly, Meth holds an honours degree in public administration from the University of Fort Hare. After being sworn in as the Eastern Cape MEC of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform in 2019, Meth was appointed MEC for Health in the province in 2021. Significant challenges and criticisms marked her tenure as Eastern Cape health MEC. Trade union UASA welcomed Meth's appointment as labour minister and said "a new face will bring change to the portfolio, allowing organised labour to engage and bring new ideas to tackle unemployment and improve the economy." Labour federation Cosatu indicated that it was planning to meet urgently with Meth to address the ongoing issues within the labour sector. These were said to include “endless problems” with the UIF and Compensation Fund, the need for increased protection of workers with labour laws, the high unemployment levels, and enforcing the compulsory national minimum wage of R27.58 per hour for workers.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Na'ilah Ebrahim at Fin24
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