The Citizen reports that trade union federation Cosatu on Friday welcomed the extension of Community Work Programme (CWP) contracts for participants aged 55 and older until the end of March this year.
The decision was announced following a bilateral meeting between Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Velenkosini Hlabisa, and Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana. The original decision to end the contracts was made in response to significant budget cuts that threatened the program’s sustainability and risked unauthorised expenditure by Cogta. Approximately 67,000 CWP workers were facing contract termination at the end of January. Cosatu welcomed the government’s latest decision, noting its significance for vulnerable workers and their families. The CWP serves as a transformative public employment initiative. It provides temporary employment safety nets while aiming to help participants rise from poverty through skills development and community engagement. Hlabisa emphasised the government’s ongoing commitment to the program’s success, while noting that consultations continued with stakeholders. “We are currently engaged in constructive consultations and will provide regular updates as the Department works closely with all relevant stakeholders. Our aim is to address this issue thoughtfully, ensuring a careful balance between financial responsibility and social accountability,” Hlabisa explained. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks highlighted that the majority of CWP workers aged 55 nd over were women from rural areas and townships, where employment opportunities were scarce and many did not qualify for the Old Age Grant. The federation called for a comprehensive overhaul of public employment programs.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Enkosi Selane at The Citizen
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