BL Premium reports that the government of national unity (GNU) was in the crosshairs when labour federation Cosatu embarked on a national day of action on Monday against the “crippling economic crisis in the country, characterised by joblessness, poverty and inequality”.

This after Cosatu and SACP leaders took potshots at the “neoliberal” GNU which they described as the “highest form of betrayal of our people”. The event by a key ally of the ANC saw provincial marches held across the country to mark the World Day for Decent Work. “Chief among our grievances is the staggering unemployment rate in the country. As it stands 11.3-million people need jobs. This includes people who have given up looking for work, but that does not mean they don’t need jobs,” Cosatu spokesperson Zanele Sabela said. She added: “Given the high rate of unemployment, Cosatu is demanding a moratorium on retrenchments. It is nonsensical for employers to continue retrenching the few workers who do have jobs.” In Gauteng, Cosatu members marched to the JSE in Sandton, where they presented a list of demands to the bourse’s executives. Among its demands, Cosatu called on the government and employers to place a moratorium on retrenchments, an increase in the number of labour inspectors after a spike in non-complying employers and elimination of the gender pay gap. Other demands were that the government needed to come up with an urgent solution to the cost-of-living crisis, address illicit financial flows and tax evasion, swiftly implement the state capture commission recommendations and implement strategies to combat sexual harassment and abuse.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
• Read too, Union members take to the streets in Cape Town, Joburg and Durban to demand decent work, at GroundUp

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page