insert_link Business / Economics Union to Present Support for Increase in S.A’s National Minimum Wage Cosatu says it will be presenting its submission to support the South Africa National Minimum Wage Commission’ recommendations of 1.5-percent increase for the national minimum wage for the 2025 financial year and finalise its proposals to Employment and Labour minister Nomakhosazana Meth. Cosatu’s Matthew Parks says the federation is urging the Minister to announce the final increase and ensure it comes into effect by no later than 1 March […] todayDecember 20, 2024 16
insert_link South Africa Cosatu Hails Ramaphosa’s Signing of Railway Safety Bill S.A Union Cosatu welcomes president Cyril Ramaphosa’s assenting of the Railway Safety Bill, saying this is a long overdue and important piece of legislation. The new law provides for the regulation of railway safety and the continued existence of the Railway Safety Regulator. Cosatu’s, Matthew Parks, says they welcome the progressive objectives and provisions of the Bill, that seek to overhaul the often-weak health and safety provisions governing the […] todayDecember 6, 2024 17
insert_link South Africa Cosatu Calls for Enforcement of ICC Arrest Warrants Against Netanyahu and Others Cosatu says the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court last week, show that no individual or state is above international law. The arrest warrants were issued for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Cosatu’s, Matthew Parks, says the international community must ensure these arrest warrants are enforced: todayNovember 25, 2024 18
insert_link Business / Economics S.A Union Urges Reserve Bank for Bigger Repo Rate Cut South African Union federation Cosatu urges the South African Reserve Bank to implement a larger-than-expected repo rate cut to help ease the financial strain on workers. Following the decrease in inflation to 2.8-percent in October, the federation believes a more significant rate reduction, beyond the anticipated 25 basis points, is needed to alleviate the burden on over-indebted households. Cosatu’s Zanele Sabela says high interest rates have forced workers to […] todayNovember 21, 2024 19
insert_link South Africa Cosatu Welcomes Dip in Unemployment Rate in South Africa S A. Union Cosatu says the slight dip in the unemployment rate is a welcome reprieve, coming on the back of three consecutive quarters of job losses. About 294-thousand more people were employed in the third quarter of this year. Cosatu’s, Matthew Parks, says unemployment remains dangerously high among young people. He says the private sector needs to come to the party by halting the flood of retrenchments […] todayNovember 13, 2024 23
insert_link South Africa S.A Union Slams R3.6 Billion Matric Exam Printing Costs S.A Union Cosatu has expressed shock as matric exam paper printing costs increased from just under one-billion-rand to 3.6-billion-rand under Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube. Spokesperson Zanele Sabela says the decision to allow provinces to choose their printers led to this massive increase, with Limpopo's costs alone rising over 130-percent. She has criticised Gwarube for her handling of funding amid a budget crisis: todayNovember 13, 2024 31
insert_link South Africa AfriForum and Solidarity Reject Cosatu’s Claims of Apartheid Flags at BELA Protest AfriForum and Solidarity have dismissed Cosatu's claims that apartheid flags were displayed at the BELA protest in Pretoria. AfriForum's Kallie Kriel says the accusations are false and malicious. Adding that with over ten-thousand attendees protesting the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, organisers noted one individual with a Vierkleur flag, who was quickly escorted off-site. He criticised Cosatu over the allegations: todayNovember 7, 2024 28
insert_link South Africa Cosatu Expresses Disappointment with S.A’s Treasury’s Economic Strategies S.A union, Cosatu says it remains underwhelmed and disappointed by the Treasury’s continued approach to tackling South Africa’s deep-seated economic and governance crises. The union federation was responding to the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement. Cosatu’s, Matthew Parks, says the fundamental challenges facing the nation are a stagnant economy and a rising unemployment rate of 42.6-percent: todayOctober 31, 2024 24
insert_link South Africa S.A Unions Back One Another in Labour Court Battle Over Community Healthcare Workers South African Union, Cosatu, says it is fully behind its affiliate NEHAWU, as it heads to the Labour Court today in defence of Community Healthcare Workers. Cosatu’s spokesperson, Zanele Sabela says the union seeks to review the arbitration award that ruled against its application to compel the Department of Health to appoint Community Healthcare Workers permanently. She says NEHAWU’s case is justified: todayOctober 29, 2024 46