Cosatu to embark on national shutdown on Friday

The nationwide protests will mark World Day for Decent Work.

It aims to focus attention on rising food prices, the energy crisis as well as the high unemployment rate in the country.

Cosatu national spokesperson Sizwe Pamla says South African workers deserve a decent living wage and working conditions.

“The workers need to unite in defending jobs, fighting corruption, as well as the shortcomings of our law enforcement agencies in fighting corruption and gender-based violence.

“We need to fearlessly express our determination to protect the integrity of collective bargaining, and to resist all attempts by employers to undermine it.”

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Pamla says the federation will also make clear their demands ahead of the tabling of October’s mini-budget.

“We demand that this upcoming Medium Term Budget Policy Statement show that government is ready to abandon the ineffectual budget cuts and adopt a macro-economic framework geared to address the basic needs of our people, transform the economy, strengthen the public service, and renew efforts to build a capable developmental state.

“The upcoming MTBPS must clearly provide a commitment on the Eskom debt in order to finally address the energy crises that continues to weaken the South African economy.”